Kimberly Pate named new UIS Athletic Director

Chancellor Susan J. Koch today named Kimberly Pate as the new director of athletics at University of Illinois Springfield, pending approval of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Pate comes from Brevard College in North Carolina, where she had been the athletics director for the past four years. Brevard College is an NCAA Division II member in the South Atlantic Conference.

“I am truly honored to join the UIS team and believe the university and athletics department are positioned for great success,” Pate said. “I am excited to join such a dedicated and talented group of people who are clearly committed to the student experience and for the opportunity to further develop UIS as a competitive and respected model NCAA Division II athletics program that both the university and community can be proud of.”

Pate oversaw 18 athletic programs at Brevard College. She is also a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) and is vice chair of the NCAA Division II membership committee. Pate was instrumental in the college’s transitional process from NAIA to NCAA Division II. UIS has undergone that same transition in the past four years.

“Kim is a proven leader who was a student-athlete and a university coach,” Chancellor Koch said. “She also has a strong passion for the role of academics, athletics and community engagement at a Division II university. Her strong business background will be very helpful in creating a strategic plan, setting goals and managing the Athletics budget and fundraising initiatives. Kim will be a wonderful ambassador for our students and coaches on campus and in the local community.”

Pate was promoted to athletics director at Brevard College after she was its assistant athletic director for compliance and business. She was also a graduate of the college and was a two-time NAIA Academic All-American Athlete and a four-year starter for the softball team. She has a master’s in Business Administration from Western Carolina University.

Pate will become the acting athletics director on July 26 and the full-time permanent Director of Athletics on August 16. She and her husband, Rick Pate, will be moving to Springfield along with their daughter Carsen, who is four months old.

UIS has 11 athletic programs and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference in NCAA Division II. UIS recently had 39 student-athletes names to the Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Academic Team.