Contact: Steve Levy, UMBC Director of Athletic Communications, 410-455-2197 UMBC is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Hall as Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation effective July 8, 2013. Hall joins the UMBC community after serving as Director of Athletics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) since February 2007. A member of the Chancellor’s executive cabinet, Hall’s stewardship of the program propelled UMKC to new heights at the NCAA Division I level in athletic competitiveness, academic success, fundraising and community service efforts. Hall succeeds Dr. Charles Brown, who will retire June 30 as the longest-tenured NCAA Division I director in Maryland history. The new Retriever leader will build on substantial momentum, including championships in seven different sports over ten seasons in the America East Conference and titles in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer. UMBC just matched its best-ever finish by placing third in the race for the America East Conference’s Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup. The Retrievers’ 19-sport program also finished third in 2007-08 and 2010-11. The Retrievers have also excelled in the classroom. Since UMBC entered the America East, 36 student-athletes earned Academic All-District or All-America status and the program’s graduation rate (GSR) is at 88%, which is 6% above the national average. “I am excited to serve UMBC as its new Director of Athletics,” said Hall. “UMBC is an exemplary institution of higher learning—one that is on the cutting edge of innovation and entrepreneurism. I pledge to work with great enthusiasm to advance the reputation, efficiency and impact of Retriever Athletics. In addition, my family and I are looking forward to integrating ourselves into the UMBC community and beyond.” Hall will have direct responsibility for the UMBC’s NCAA Division I Intercollegiate Athletics program, all campus recreational programs (intramurals, club sports, recreational activities) and the Physical Education program. His primary responsibility will be to encourage and support the total development of all students and student-athletes at UMBC through the competitive, recreational and educational sports programs and activities sponsored by the university. “Our campus takes pride in connecting athletics with the life and academic culture of the university,” said UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski. "Tim Hall has led UMKC’s teams to success on the field, in the classroom, and in the community by bringing out the best in his colleagues and students. I have no doubt that he will provide our athletics department with the kind of the visionary and creative leadership that we so value at UMBC." “The search process was a thorough and inclusive one and I know that I speak for the entire campus community when I say we couldn’t be more enthused to welcome an athletic director with a competitive spirit, integrity and a proven track record of success,” said Dr. Nancy Young, Vice President of Student Affairs. Since Hall accepted the UMKC post in 2007, the Kangaroos have seen competitive improvement every year. UMKC has won conference championships in men’s soccer, men’s golf, men’s tennis and softball. In the spring of 2013, he led UMKC athletics into a new era, announcing that it was joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on July 1, 2013. In 2011-12, UMKC Athletics finished fifth place in the Summit League Commissioner's Cup standings, the highest finish for the Kangaroos since 1999-2000. UMKC also took third in the Dr. Helen Smiley Women's All-Sports standings, the highest finish since winning in 1998-99. In the classroom, the department posted a grade point average of better than 3.26. Additionally, UMKC finished with a 958.7 APR average and the volleyball team received the NCAA public recognition award. In 2008, UMKC received a 5-million pledge from the Stanley H. Durwood Foundation, the largest gift in Athletics and the fifth-largest gift in University history. The resulting Stanley H. Durwood Soccer Stadium and Recreational Field opened in August 2009 and is among the premier soccer facilities in the Midwest region. On an annual basis, the Kangaroo Athletics Scholarship Fund, which was rebranded prior to the 2007-08 school year, posted three consecutive years of 50% growth, while donor participation increased over 200% during that same time period. Hall is also in a three-year term on the NACDA Division I-AAA Executive Committee and serves on the NCAA volleyball rules committee, as well as the NCAA committee on Women’s Athletics. Hall came to Kansas City after serving as the Associate Athletics Director for Development at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, 2003-07. While at KSU, he was a member of the athletics senior administrative staff, working in all phases of departmental management including game and personnel contracts, scheduling, budget, policy and strategic planning. Previously, Hall worked at Eastern Kentucky University, 2000-03. He began work as the collegiate Director for Development in 2000 before being promoted to the Director of Major Gifts and Special Projects in 2001. In this capacity, he raised over $4.6 million for the university, including $1.3 million for athletics. Hall also served as the Assistant Director of Development at Saint Xavier University in Chicago from September 1999 through October 2000. Before moving to Chicago, Hall worked at Youngstown State University as an Assistant Director of Athletic Development from 1997 to 1999. Hall earned his bachelor's degree in sports administration from the University of Toledo in 1994. He then received his master's degree in sports administration from Kent State University in 1998. Hall and his wife, Beth, have four children, Aidan, Aislin, Donovan and Landon. Update: UMBC will host a "Meet-and-Greet" with Tim Hall on Tuesday, June 25, 3:30 p.m., at the Sports Zone, third floor of the Commons. The campus community is invited to join President Hrabowski, Dr. Nancy Young and the athletic department staff in welcoming Tim and his family to UMBC. Light refreshments will be served.