MAAC Welcomes Lauren Eads as Interim Deputy Commissioner
MAAC Welcomes Lauren Eads as Interim Deputy Commissioner
EDISON, N.J. (Dec. 23, 2020) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today the hiring of Lauren Eads to serve as the Interim Deputy Commissioner. Eads will fill in for Deputy Commissioner Jessica Grasso as she takes time off for the arrival of her first child. Eads’ term will begin Jan. 19, 2021 and last throughout June.
“We are very happy to welcome Lauren back to the MAAC, having served as a Championships Fellow and Director of Championships and Special Events from 2005 to 2007,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “Since that time, Lauren has had a varied career within athletic departments and conference offices, most recently as a Vice President and Director of Athletics. Her skills and knowledge of the MAAC will greatly assist me while Jess is on leave. This winter and spring requires experienced administrative skills while Division I athletics seeks to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and resume operations including fall, winter and spring sports championships combined within a 4 month time frame.”
Eads most recently served as the Vice President/Director of Athletics at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, where she set the overall strategy for the Department of Athletics and its 15 NCAA Division II sports with the university’s mission at the forefront. She led a full-time staff of 19 employees, in addition to 27 part-time employees and 250 student-athletes, while also managing the department’s budget of $2+ million. Under her leadership, the Cavaliers captured the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Academic Championship in 2018-19 with 100 student-athletes receiving all-academic team honors. In addition, she oversaw the Cavs capture GNAC championships in softball and women’s soccer.
"I'm delighted to return to the MAAC,” said Eads. “I’d like to extend my thanks to Commissioner Ensor for this opportunity, and I look forward to working with the administrators, coaches and student-athletes from every MAAC institution."
Prior to her stop at Concordia, Eads was on staff at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she was the Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator. While in Nashville, Eads was responsible for the marketing, sponsorships and game day promotions for all 17 NCAA Division I programs. Over her career, she has served as the primary administrator and has directed conference championships for a number of sports, including basketball, softball and volleyball.
Prior to her stint at Belmont, Eads was the Assistant Director of Marketing at Saint Leo University in Florida and was the Director for Sports Administration for the Missouri Valley Conference.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40
th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.