Staff Directory
Josh Heird
- Title:
- Director of Athletics
- Email:
Josh Heird was named the University of Louisville’s Vice President and Director of Athletics in June 2022 (after serving in an interim capacity since December 2021) and has quickly emerged as a respected national voice in college athletics. A collaborative and values-driven leader, Heird oversees
Louisville’s 23 varsity programs and more than 650 student-athletes while guiding the department through one of the most transformative periods in collegiate sports history. His leadership philosophy centers on building a championship culture that prioritizes student-athlete development, competitive excellence, and meaningful engagement with the Louisville community.
Since assuming the role, Heird has positioned Louisville Athletics for sustained success through strategic leadership, enhanced student-athlete support, and strong engagement with fans, donors, and community partners. His tenure has focused on strengthening Louisville’s competitive trajectory while ensuring the department remains well positioned to thrive in the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics.
Under Heird’s Leadership
Comprehensive competitive success has remained a hallmark of Louisville Athletics. The Cardinals continue to compete at the highest levels of the Atlantic Coast Conference across multiple sports, maintaining consistent national rankings, postseason appearances, and national visibility.
A key focus of Heird’s leadership has been positioning Louisville Athletics for long-term sustainability in the rapidly changing college sports landscape. He has led strategic planning around revenue generation, financial sustainability, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities while maintaining transparency and collaboration with university leadership, faculty, and stakeholders.
Heird has also strengthened Louisville Athletics’ engagement across the Commonwealth. The department has seen unprecedented fan interest and expanded relationships with local, state, and federal leaders to advocate for the future of college athletics.
Nationally, Heird is recognized as a thoughtful and collaborative voice within the industry. He is regularly called upon to represent the interests of collegiate athletics in conversations at both the conference and national levels and is respected among his peers throughout the ACC and beyond.
Heird currently serves on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Committee, College Sports Commission Implementation Committee and is a board member of Louisville’s American Heart Association chapter, reflecting his commitment to both collegiate athletics governance and community engagement.
Prior to being named Louisville’s Director of Athletics, Heird served as the department’s Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing internal operations, facilities, capital projects, and strategic initiatives.
Before returning to Louisville, Heird served as Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief Athletics Operating Officer at Villanova University in 2018–19 after nearly two years as Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Finance. In those roles, he provided leadership for the department’s internal units and oversaw finance and budget operations, capital projects, ticket and equipment operations, food service, camps, and event management. He also served as sport administrator for the men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer programs and as secondary administrator for men’s basketball.
Prior to Villanova, Heird spent nearly 10 years at Louisville (2007–16), most recently as Assistant Athletic Director for Championships and Facilities from 2012–16. In that role, he oversaw capital projects approved by the UofL Athletic Association and assisted with daily facility operations while managing all ACC and NCAA postseason events hosted by Louisville.
Heird began his career in athletics at Louisville as Assistant Director of Championships in 2007 and was promoted to Director of Championships in 2009. Before entering collegiate athletics, he spent five years in Washington, D.C., working for Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho and Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado.
Heird is a 2002 graduate of Mississippi College, where he competed in cross country, track & field, and football. He was the American Southwest Conference 800-meter champion in 2001, an all-conference cross-country selection, and an academic all-conference honoree throughout his career. He was inducted into the Mississippi Community & Junior College Sports Hall of Fame in April 2026.
He earned an MBA from the University of Louisville in 2009.
Heird is married to the former Abbey Woolley. The couple have two children, Hadley and Gus
Louisville’s 23 varsity programs and more than 650 student-athletes while guiding the department through one of the most transformative periods in collegiate sports history. His leadership philosophy centers on building a championship culture that prioritizes student-athlete development, competitive excellence, and meaningful engagement with the Louisville community.
Since assuming the role, Heird has positioned Louisville Athletics for sustained success through strategic leadership, enhanced student-athlete support, and strong engagement with fans, donors, and community partners. His tenure has focused on strengthening Louisville’s competitive trajectory while ensuring the department remains well positioned to thrive in the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics.
Under Heird’s Leadership
- Hired and extended Jeff Brohm as Louisville’s head football coach, bringing the Louisville native and nationally respected coach home to lead the Cardinals.
- Hired Pat Kelsey as head men’s basketball coach, launching a new era for one of college basketball’s premier programs.
- Achieved the highest academic performance in program history, with a 3.39 department-wide GPA and a 96% graduation success rate.
- Recorded the highest GPA in Louisville football history (3.0+).
- Generated $3.84 billion in economic impact from FY2023–FY2025, averaging $1.28 billion annually.
- Produced more than $2.3 billion in brand exposure value across national media platforms.
- Guided Louisville football and men’s basketball to ACC Championship Game appearances, marking historic milestones for both programs.
- Delivered record fan engagement, including strong ticket demand and sold-out premium seating areas.
- Finalized a $41 million naming-rights agreement for L&N Stadium, one of the largest gifts in school history, and secured a $4 million commitment to open the Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club.
- Expanded investment in student-athlete mental health, academic support, and professional development programming.
Comprehensive competitive success has remained a hallmark of Louisville Athletics. The Cardinals continue to compete at the highest levels of the Atlantic Coast Conference across multiple sports, maintaining consistent national rankings, postseason appearances, and national visibility.
A key focus of Heird’s leadership has been positioning Louisville Athletics for long-term sustainability in the rapidly changing college sports landscape. He has led strategic planning around revenue generation, financial sustainability, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities while maintaining transparency and collaboration with university leadership, faculty, and stakeholders.
Heird has also strengthened Louisville Athletics’ engagement across the Commonwealth. The department has seen unprecedented fan interest and expanded relationships with local, state, and federal leaders to advocate for the future of college athletics.
Nationally, Heird is recognized as a thoughtful and collaborative voice within the industry. He is regularly called upon to represent the interests of collegiate athletics in conversations at both the conference and national levels and is respected among his peers throughout the ACC and beyond.
Heird currently serves on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Committee, College Sports Commission Implementation Committee and is a board member of Louisville’s American Heart Association chapter, reflecting his commitment to both collegiate athletics governance and community engagement.
Prior to being named Louisville’s Director of Athletics, Heird served as the department’s Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing internal operations, facilities, capital projects, and strategic initiatives.
Before returning to Louisville, Heird served as Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief Athletics Operating Officer at Villanova University in 2018–19 after nearly two years as Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Finance. In those roles, he provided leadership for the department’s internal units and oversaw finance and budget operations, capital projects, ticket and equipment operations, food service, camps, and event management. He also served as sport administrator for the men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer programs and as secondary administrator for men’s basketball.
Prior to Villanova, Heird spent nearly 10 years at Louisville (2007–16), most recently as Assistant Athletic Director for Championships and Facilities from 2012–16. In that role, he oversaw capital projects approved by the UofL Athletic Association and assisted with daily facility operations while managing all ACC and NCAA postseason events hosted by Louisville.
Heird began his career in athletics at Louisville as Assistant Director of Championships in 2007 and was promoted to Director of Championships in 2009. Before entering collegiate athletics, he spent five years in Washington, D.C., working for Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho and Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado.
Heird is a 2002 graduate of Mississippi College, where he competed in cross country, track & field, and football. He was the American Southwest Conference 800-meter champion in 2001, an all-conference cross-country selection, and an academic all-conference honoree throughout his career. He was inducted into the Mississippi Community & Junior College Sports Hall of Fame in April 2026.
He earned an MBA from the University of Louisville in 2009.
Heird is married to the former Abbey Woolley. The couple have two children, Hadley and Gus
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