INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI's Director of Athletics Dr. Roderick Perry has announced his intent to resign as AD at the end of the 2022-23 academic year or until a successor is named. Perry took over the IUPUI program in October 2015 and officially began duties in January 2016.
He was named 2021-2022 Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and later honored in Las Vegas last June.
"I am proud of what we have accomplished together. We have had some amazing accomplishments. It has been a privilege to serve, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff," Perry said. "With Vision 2024 and IU 2030, I feel now is the time for new leadership. I am confident the foundation has been laid for future success.
"I will leave with wonderful memories."
Perry helped guide IUPUI's transition from The Summit League to the Horizon League prior to the 2017-18 academic year, placing the program within a better geographical fit to maximize resources. Departmentally, IUPUI has recorded its highest finishes in both The Summit League and Horizon League's all-sports standings during Perry's tenure as the Jaguars finished fourth in The Summit League in 2017 and third in the Horizon League's James J. McCafferty Trophy standings in 2018. Four different IUPUI programs have earned Horizon League titles during Perry's tenure, including the first-ever women's basketball NCAA Tournament berth in the department's Division I history.
The women's soccer team earned an NCAA berth in the department's first year in the Horizon League and the women's golf team captured back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019. The men's cross country program collected three consecutive league titles from 2019-2021.
Academically, IUPUI was ranked among the 98th percentile in all of Division I programs in grade point average last year and has continued a streak of 28 consecutive semesters with a departmental GPA of 3.0 or greater. IUPUI has also fared incredibly well in the NCAA metrics, performing well in both the Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR). The Jaguars have also been increasingly active in the community as student-athletes and staffers have annually averaged more than 3,000 hours of community service initiatives.
The department has realized increased external support during Perry's tenure, including the three largest sponsorship agreements in program history. Continued financial support has also grown among former student-athletes in unrestricted dollars, leading to an elevated student-athlete experience since his arrival. Included in the elevated experience have been facility enhancements in the Jungle, Athletic Training Room, IUPUI Softball Complex, West Indy Racquet Club and Carroll Stadium. Additionally, the IUPUI home offices were moved back to the center of campus at NIFS.
One of Perry's first initiatives upon taking over the department was a branding initiative which coincided with a transition to adidas as the program's footwear, apparel, and accessory provider in July 2018. The combined initiatives included a variety of large-scale print, radio and television advertisements in Central Indiana, celebrating the IUPUI brand.
Perry will continue to spearhead several projects through the duration of the academic year, including the creation and construction of a men's basketball team room on campus and the continued revamping of the department's external team.
A national search for Perry's replacement will begin immediately.
