MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Dr. Gail Gasparich, Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs, today announced the resignation of the director of athletics, Miles Gallagher '10/'12M. Following eight years of dedicated and outstanding service to Millersville University, during which the athletic department flourished, Gallagher moves on for a new career opportunity.
"Millersville has been home to me for almost 16 years," said Gallagher. "It's not just my alma mater, but the place I've been able to grow both personally and professionally. I'm incredibly proud of what our student-athletes and coaches have accomplished during my tenure. What I will miss most is the relationships. We have an incredible group of coaches, administrators, and faculty who dedicate themselves tirelessly to our student-athletes."
Gallagher will remain with the University through December and assist in transitioning the department forward.
"It has been a pleasure working with Miles over the past few years, and I greatly respect his commitment to student-athlete success in competition and in the classroom," said Gasparich. "He has so many accomplishments to praise but all have the common characteristic of supporting students and coaches to have what they need to be successful. He was a strong advocate for all of athletics, and he will be missed."
"We wish Miles the best as he starts the next chapter in his life," says Dr. Daniel Wubah, President of Millersville University. "As an alum and athlete, he was a strong advocate for our 19 collegiate teams over the past eight years. Athletics has seen transformational gifts during Miles' tenure, including the $1.5 million gift from Lois Morgan '54 in 2021, which will go toward a three-phase renovation of Biemesderfer Stadium to become the Morgan Athletic Complex. Miles's contributions to our teams will be felt for years to come."
A Millersville student-athlete who later served as a graduate assistant and an associate athletic director, Gallagher was named the University's director of athletics in December of 2015 and spurred dramatic improvements in the department's competitive and academic successes as well as significant growth in fundraising. During his tenure, the Marauders captured seven PSAC Championships, three individual NCAA Championships and rose to back-to-back top-six finishes in the PSAC's Dixon Trophy standings, representing the best two-year stretch in more than 20 years.
Gallagher worked diligently behind the scenes to provide each student-athlete with a championship experience, and his efforts in fundraising increased annual scholarships from $600,000 to $1.5 million. He led the department though the Imagine the Possible Campaign, which raised $7.7 million for athletics scholarships and program needs. Athletics annually led the way in record-setting One Day Give events for the University. Under his direction, athletics exceeded $1 million in annual fundraising for the first time and it has topped that mark eight years running. Gallagher helped procure the record-setting Lois Morgan gift, starting a campaign that has now generated nearly $5 million for Biemesderfer Stadium renovations.
With construction set to begin in December of 2024, the Biemesderfer Stadium renovation is among the many highlights of Gallagher's facility upgrades. Under his watch, Pucillo Gymnasium, Anttonen Lobby and Anttonen Natatorium received significant upgrades, the installation of lights is underway at Cooper Park, and the department moved into Lehigh Hall, which is now a showcase facility for student-athlete use and recruiting. In all the improvements, Gallagher highlighted the history and tradition of Millersville Athletics through facility branding, which stand out at all athletic facilities.
Student-athletes excelled in the classroom under Gallagher's direction as the department set new records annually in number of PSAC Scholar-Athletes and its department GPA rise to a 3.20. With community engagement a priority, Millersville student-athletes experienced five memorable wish reveals to area children as part of a partnership with Make-A-Wish.
"I'm excited for this new chapter in my life and the opportunity of a new career challenge," said Gallagher. "It is one that keeps me in athletics but also allows me to focus more time on my family. I want to thank Dr. Wubah and Dr. Gasparich for their support and leadership. Millersville University and the Department of Athletics is in a great position for success in the future with their leadership."
