UW-Green Bay Names Charles Guthrie Ninth Athletics Director
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Charles Guthrie has been named the ninth Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Chancellor Gary L. Miller announced on Tuesday. Guthrie, an athletics administrator with over 15 years in collegiate athletics, has spent the last three years as the Director of Athletics at San Francisco State and will begin the new role on November 6. A press conference to introduce Guthrie to the Green Bay community will be held on Thursday, November 2 at 4 p.m. in the Special Events Room at the Kress Events Center.
6940As Green Bay's Director of Athletics, Guthrie will oversee a department offering 16 intercollegiate sports, serving 250 student-athletes and having reached tremendous heights in recent years. He will report directly to Chancellor Miller and serve on his senior leadership team.
"We are delighted to welcome Charles Guthrie to the UW-Green Bay community as Athletic Director," said Miller. "Charles brings exactly the right expertise in NCAA athletics to move an already fantastic program to even higher levels. We were especially impressed with his strong community spirit, ability to work with coaches and staff, understanding of today's complex NCAA environment, track record with compliance and his overall love of higher education, sports and student athletes."
Since joining San Francisco State, an NCAA Division II institution sponsoring 12 athletic programs, Guthrie has been responsible for strategic planning, implementing, coordinating and assessing core components of external relations, internal operations and compliance with a primary focus on the student-athlete experience, staff and coach development, and fundraising.
During Guthrie's tenure, the Gator's program has transformed into one of the premier programs in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), overseeing substantial increases in sponsorship, ticket sales, and fundraising revenue. Annual giving doubled during his tenure and Guthrie was also successful in securing a $2 million gift, the largest one-time individual gift to San Francisco State athletics.
Under Guthrie's leadership, a five-year strategic business plan focused on Title IX compliance, scholarship enhancement and facilities improvement was created. Facility improvements since his arrival have included a $2 million gymnasium renovation featuring new bleachers, team rooms, and an expanded athletics training room.
Guthrie has demonstrated his commitment to student-athletes, helping the Gator's 270 student-athletes excel in the classroom and prepare for life after graduation. Since arriving at San Francisco State, more than 200 student-athletes have achieved CCAA all-academic honors and SF State has maintained a 70% graduation rate. Additionally, the 2016-17 Gators had a record-breaking year in the classroom - 72 student athletes were named to the CCAA All-Academic team and generated a department-wide GPA above 3.2.
The Gators continued to build on its competitive success during the 2016-17 season, highlighted by an NCAA National Championship in the outdoor 4x400m and 11 All-American honors for the women's track and field team. Additionally, men's basketball made their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1993-94 and men's soccer finished with their best league record since joining the CCAA in 1998. Women's soccer posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign. During the 2015-16 season, the Gators did not have a single team finish in last place in their respective conference standings, in doing so, San Francisco State finished tied for seventh in the Robert J. Hiegert Commissioner's Cup Standings, their highest finish ever in the CCAA.
"I'm humbled and honored to assume the responsibility of leading Green Bay athletics into a new era," said Guthrie. "I am grateful to Chancellor Miller and the members of the search committee for their confidence in me to lead Phoenix Athletics to new heights. This is a tremendous opportunity to advance athletics excellence at UWGB commensurate with a tireless commitment to all aspects of the educational experience - all with a 'Student First' approach. I look forward to working with the coaches, faculty, staff and Green Bay community in advancing the Phoenix program."
Prior to arriving at San Francisco State, Guthrie spent three years as the Director of Athletics at Clark College (Vancouver, WA). At Clark College, Guthrie implemented annual and major gift fundraising campaigns, created and executed a three-year strategic plan, and secured funding to support gymnasium renovations, new scoreboards in all athletics facilities and a new on-campus softball field.
Over the course of nearly two decades, Guthrie has also spent time in athletic and advancement roles at Cal State LA, California State – San Marcos, UC San Diego, Columbia University, Colgate University, and Eastern College Athletic Conference.
Guthrie attended the prestigious Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University earning his bachelor's degree in political science and his master's in education administration and policy studies from the University at Albany. He also participated in the NCAA Fellows Leadership Development Program class of 2003-04.
About the Green Bay Phoenix
The Green Bay Phoenix sponsor 16 intercollegiate sport programs and 250 student-athletes. The Phoenix has made NCAA tournament appearances in men's basketball, women's basketball, men's tennis, men's soccer, volleyball and softball in recent years. In the classroom, Phoenix student athletes annually rank among the Horizon League's best, highlighted by 35-straight semesters of a department wide 3.0 GPA or better and a recent No. 1-in-the-nation GPA ranking for women's basketball and women's cross country.
About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs to 7,158 students. The University transforms lives and communities through exceptional and award-winning teaching and research, innovative learning opportunities and a problem-solving approach to education. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT CHARLES…
Mark Murphy, President and CEO, Green Bay Packers: "I'm really excited for Charles. He and I worked together at Colgate over twenty years ago and I have followed his career closely since then. What he has accomplished during his career is truly remarkable. UWGB is getting an extremely talented, experienced athletic director who will have an immediate positive impact on the University. The future of UWGB's athletics program will be very bright under his leadership."
Les Wong, President, San Francisco State: "Charles is a passionate and talented athletic director. He has helped lay the foundation for the Division II program at San Francisco State University to be successful far into the future. During his tenure, both our men's basketball and women's track and field teams had their best seasons in decades. Charles is most proud of the academic success of our student athletes, who graduate on time with team GPAs 3.0 and above. I am confident in Charles' abilities, and I know he is ready to lead the Division I athletics program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay."
Sean T. Frazier, Director of Athletics, Northern Illinois: "Congratulations to UW-Green Bay on a fantastic hire in Charles Guthrie as their new AD! I have known Charles for many years and have watched his successful progression in our profession, I have also spent a number of years in the great state of Wisconsin and can confidently say that Charles has the determination, professional demeanor, track record of success and overall experience to be extremely effective at UW-Green Bay! I'm excited for Charles and his family & look forward to welcoming him to the Midwest!"
Vicky Chun, Vice President & Director of Athletics, Colgate University: "I have known Charles for well over 15 years. During that span of time his passion, enthusiasm, work ethic and commitment to his coaches and student-athletes has never wavered. He will do great things for the Phoenix athletic department! Congratulations Charles."
Robert Knight, President, Clark College: "Congratulations to UW-Green Bay and the Green Bay community for hiring Charles Guthrie as your Athletic Director. I am confident he will take your athletics program to the next level as he did at Clark College. You are getting much more than an Athletic Director because Charles will be an engaged and enthusiastic leader throughout the university and the community. He will build a team around him that understands the importance of a well-rounded student-athlete with strong values who works well within a team environment."
Earl Edwards, Director of Athletics, UC San Diego: "I've known Charles for over 20 years and I've been intimately involved in his professional development. Over that time, Charles has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, strong interpersonal skills and a great ability to raise funds for his programs. I know Charles will do a great job as the Athletic Director at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay as he has done at previous positions."
