Photo by: Rachel Klotz | Louisville Athletics
Cowherd Named to Division I Lacrosse Committee
July 01, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Louisville Associate Athletic Director Derek Cowherd has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Lacrosse Committee. Cowherd will serve a four-year term ending on August 31, 2028.
The committee is responsible for selecting the field and seeding of teams that compete in the NCAA Championships, administration of the tournament, and addressing national topics within the sport. As part of the committee, Cowherd will address the overall rules of the game will assist in growing the game of women's lacrosse at collegiate level.
"We're excited to have Derek join the Division I Lacrosse Committee," UofL Lacrosse coach Scott Teeter said. "It is wonderful to have someone of Derek's experience join the women's lacrosse committee. He will bring a great perspective as an administrator of the sport. He's been extremely valuable to our program at Louisville, and I look forward to see how his knowledge and expertise can help us grow this great game."
Cowherd serves as the athletic department's Chief Inclusivity Officer has developed, facilitated, and implemented inclusivity initiatives and programming for UofL Athletics and also serves as the sport administrator for Women's Lacrosse and Rowing. Prior to rejoining the Louisville staff, Cowherd served as a senior consultant with Third Eye Consulting Group, emphasizing on improving organizational culture through equity-minded and culturally-responsive leadership. The firm's clients have included: Pacers Sports and Entertainment (including the Pacers, Fever, Mudhens), Oakview Group (OVG), Capital One, American Red Cross, Indianapolis Colts, among others.
Prior to his return, Cowherd spent nearly three years at Ohio State as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Development (2018-21) earning a program-high 3.36 cumulative GPA for the 1,057 student-athletes, and an academic progress single year rate of 995 for all thirty-six sports combined. Cowherd served as the senior associate athletics director for student-athlete development at Ole Miss for six years (2012-18), achieving many firsts in academic success of student-athletes, pushing their graduation success rates and overall team GPAs to their highest in program history. While serving as director of academic affairs at LSU, his primary role at LSU was academic oversight of the Tiger football, (2007-12), he also assisted with the successful track and field and baseball programs while supervising the advising staff and graduate assistants.
"I am honored and excited to represent the ten Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse teams on the NCAA Lacrosse Committee and want to thank Commissioner Phillips for his leadership and for providing Louisville Lacrosse this leadership platform," Cowherd said.
Cowherd began his career in athletic administration at UofL, first, as a student-athlete, then graduate assistant, academic counselor, and ultimately as the assistant director for academics in athletics.
The committee is responsible for selecting the field and seeding of teams that compete in the NCAA Championships, administration of the tournament, and addressing national topics within the sport. As part of the committee, Cowherd will address the overall rules of the game will assist in growing the game of women's lacrosse at collegiate level.
"We're excited to have Derek join the Division I Lacrosse Committee," UofL Lacrosse coach Scott Teeter said. "It is wonderful to have someone of Derek's experience join the women's lacrosse committee. He will bring a great perspective as an administrator of the sport. He's been extremely valuable to our program at Louisville, and I look forward to see how his knowledge and expertise can help us grow this great game."
Cowherd serves as the athletic department's Chief Inclusivity Officer has developed, facilitated, and implemented inclusivity initiatives and programming for UofL Athletics and also serves as the sport administrator for Women's Lacrosse and Rowing. Prior to rejoining the Louisville staff, Cowherd served as a senior consultant with Third Eye Consulting Group, emphasizing on improving organizational culture through equity-minded and culturally-responsive leadership. The firm's clients have included: Pacers Sports and Entertainment (including the Pacers, Fever, Mudhens), Oakview Group (OVG), Capital One, American Red Cross, Indianapolis Colts, among others.
Prior to his return, Cowherd spent nearly three years at Ohio State as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Development (2018-21) earning a program-high 3.36 cumulative GPA for the 1,057 student-athletes, and an academic progress single year rate of 995 for all thirty-six sports combined. Cowherd served as the senior associate athletics director for student-athlete development at Ole Miss for six years (2012-18), achieving many firsts in academic success of student-athletes, pushing their graduation success rates and overall team GPAs to their highest in program history. While serving as director of academic affairs at LSU, his primary role at LSU was academic oversight of the Tiger football, (2007-12), he also assisted with the successful track and field and baseball programs while supervising the advising staff and graduate assistants.
"I am honored and excited to represent the ten Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse teams on the NCAA Lacrosse Committee and want to thank Commissioner Phillips for his leadership and for providing Louisville Lacrosse this leadership platform," Cowherd said.
Cowherd began his career in athletic administration at UofL, first, as a student-athlete, then graduate assistant, academic counselor, and ultimately as the assistant director for academics in athletics.
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