Derek Cowherd - Associate AD/Inclusive Excellence ADMINISTRATOR – Lacrosse, Rowing - Rowing Support Staff

Derek Cowherd

Title:
Associate AD/Inclusive Excellence
ADMINISTRATOR – Lacrosse, Rowing
Email:
derekc@GoCards.com
Phone:
852-2457

Derek Cowherd, a former University of Louisville football student-athlete with over 20 years of experience in athletic administration, currently serves as Associate Athletic Director for Community Engagement and Organizational Culture and is a Sport Administrator for Women’s Lacrosse and Rowing. He joined the Cardinal Athletics senior leadership team in November 2021 following a national reputation for advancing inclusive excellence, organizational leadership, and staff and student-athlete success.

Initially appointed to lead the department’s Inclusive Excellence efforts, Cowherd’s role has strategically evolved in alignment with departmental and institutional needs. He continues to serve on the department’s senior staff, where he oversees sport administration for Rowing and Women’s Lacrosse and provides leadership for culture-building, strategic planning, and staff development initiatives across the department.

Cowherd serves on multiple university-wide committees, advises senior leaders on staff and student-athlete engagement and hiring practices, and supports key functions related to onboarding, mentorship, and operational policy regarding belonging and organizational culture. He is a member of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Committee (2024–2029), representing the Atlantic Coast Conference, and previously served as the interim sport administrator for Football during the 2022 season.

Prior to returning to Louisville, Cowherd served as Executive Director for Student-Athlete Support Services and Senior Associate Athletics Director at The Ohio State University (2018–21), was a member of senior staff, and the Assoc. Provost Council, and led one of the largest academic support programs in the country. Under his leadership, Ohio State achieved record highs in Graduation Success Rate (92%), Academic Progress Rate (995), and cumulative team GPA (3.43), while implementing comprehensive career and leadership programming in collaboration with the Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute.

From 2012 to 2018, Cowherd served as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development at the University of Mississippi, overseeing academic operations, facility management, and student services within the FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center. During his tenure, Ole Miss recorded the highest graduation rates and academic performance metrics in its athletics history.

Before Ole Miss, Cowherd held leadership positions at Louisiana State University, including Director of Academic Affairs for Student-Athletes, with oversight of football and Olympic sports. At LSU, he played a key role in managing academic support operations, donor stewardship, and facility technology planning, helping raise more than $7 million in support of student development initiatives.

Cowherd began his professional career in academic services at the University of Louisville, where he held multiple roles from graduate assistant to Assistant Director of Academics for Athletics. A former linebacker for the Cardinals (1994–96), he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Med Biology in 1998 and a Master of Business and Public Administration in 2003. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Organizational Leadership, with an expected completion in 2026.

Cowherd is a native of Greensburg, Ky.