Doug Zipp Named New Athletics Director

Doug Zipp

Douglas W. Zipp was selected as the University’s 12th athletics director since 1907, when Branch Rickey held the position. Zipp will join Ohio Wesleyan on Aug. 15 to lead an NCAA Division III program that will be adding its 24th and 25th athletic sports in 2018 (women’s rowing and men’s wrestling).

For the past five years, Zipp has served as director of athletics at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., where he oversaw 21 varsity sports with 480 student-athletes and 53 full-time and part-time coaches, administrators, and staff.

“Doug Zipp brings a strong background in both athletics and higher education, and he will be a major asset in future strategic planning for athletics at Ohio Wesleyan,” says Chuck Stinemetz, chair of the search committee and OWU provost. “His extensive experience in Division III athletics and in student life make him uniquely qualified to carry on and enhance OWU’s long tradition of success on the playing fields and achievement in the classroom and in life after graduation.”

Before Shenandoah, Zipp worked 16 years at Kenyon College, joining the Gambier, Ohio, school in 1996 as dean of residential life. He later was promoted to special assistant to the president and dean of students, and in 2005 was named associate director of athletics for facilities and operations.

A farewell gathering for Ingles was held on May 3 held in the Simpson Querrey Fitness Center, and was attended by the OWU community, as well as his wife, Jo (taking picture) and son Brad ’14 (center), who works in the Office of Alumni Relations.

Previous athletics director Roger Ingles resigned from the position he held for 12 years to take a similar position at Capital University in the Columbus suburb of Bexley. Ingles was previously interim AD for one year, associate AD for three years, and assistant AD for seven years. Ingles also served as OWU baseball coach for 22 seasons.

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