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Cleveland State University announced the appointment of Scott Garrett as its seventh Director of Athletics on April 8, 2019.  Garrett was formally introduced at a press conference in Cleveland State’s Student Center by former CSU President Harlan M. Sands.

Garrett, who enters his fifth year with CSU and was promoted to Vice President and Director of Athletics in 2022, arrived in Cleveland after nine years at Kansas State University, where he served as Executive Associate Athletics Director with responsibilities in fan experience, fundraising, business operations, sport supervision, strategic planning, and more. At CSU, Garrett provides leadership and oversight for all of CSU’s 18 NCAA Division I sports, $14+ million operating budget, 65 staff and coaches, and over 350 student-athletes. 

“Scott Garrett is a very successful leader who has had a tremendous impact at every level of athletics administration he has touched. He is all about building a winning culture with integrity and values – both on the field and in the classroom,” CSU President Harlan M. Sands said at the time of Garrett's hiring. “We are very excited that he will be joining our team, and I look forward to working with him as we build upon the athletic and academic achievements of our student-athletes.”

“I am privileged and honored to be named Cleveland State University’s next Director of Athletics,” Garrett said upon taking the position. “Throughout the search process I have been extremely impressed with President Sands’ vision for CSU, the positive energy around campus and the numerous opportunities to move CSU Athletics forward.”

Throughout Garrett’s tenure, CSU has experienced widespread growth. Under his guidance, Cleveland State has set school records in nearly every academic, financial and individual and team competitive category, winning a total of nine team league championships, 18 individual league titles, 31 major postseason awards and seeing 103 student-athletes earn all-league distinction.

In his fourth year in charge of the CSU program in 2022-23, Garrett led the Vikings to one of the most successful years in the history of the department. Highlights include:

• Served on steering committee for development and announcement of CSU’s Campus Facilities Master Plan, which incorporates over $650 million in proposed construction or renovation projects including distinct development districts with academic, student life, housing, athletics and partnership projects, highlighted by a proposed new on-campus multi-purpose arena.
• Completion of several facility improvements, including a new video scoreboard in Woodling Gymnasium, new graphics and branding elements in the basketball practice facility, and new batting cages and bullpens at the softball stadium.
• Total giving to CSU Athletics reached another record-high, surpassing $1.2 million on the year, a thanks to increased memberships in the Viking Fund, a record CSU Giving Day, and the launch of the Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative, with $530,000 raised towards approximately $1.5 million in planned improvements to academic spaces, locker rooms, training room, strength and conditioning spaces and the gymnasium located at CSU’s physical education building.
• Successfully secured a competitive $100,000 NCAA Grant for improvements to academic spaces, scheduled to be completed for the start of the 2023-24 academic year.
• Launched the Viking Ventures NIL Marketplace through the Horizon League’s partnership with Opendorse, allowing student-athletes to capitalize on Name, Image and Likeness opportunities. CSU student-athletes finished in the top 3 schools in the Horizon League in NIL earnings secured or disclosed through OpenDorse. NIL efforts were supported through expansion of the partnership of “Every Athlete Is A Startup” educational program in the Monte Ahuja College of Business Weston Ideation Lab.  
• Launched a department-wide partnership with TeamWorks for day-to-day schedule management and communications for all athletic teams. Entered into a partnership with Affinity Licensing to manage the department logo and trademark licensing activity.  Extended partnerships with BSN/Nike for apparel and equipment and Aspire Group for proactive ticket sales and services.
• Finalized partnership with Bally Sports to broadcast key league men’s basketball games across the state of Ohio.
• Inducted five new members into the Cleveland State Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 Induction Class: Dominique Butler (Women’s Basketball), Norris Cole (Men’s Basketball), Natalie Daniels (Women’s Soccer), Bill Reith (Fencing), and Brad Stuver (Men’s Soccer).
• A record number of all-academic performers, with 41 student-athletes earning league all-academic recognition. Cleveland State student-athletes finished with a 3.46 cumulative GPA following the spring semester. The department also continued a streak of 34 consecutive semesters with a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher. In total, 383 student-athletes were named to the Dean’s List across both semesters, 73 student-athletes were named to the President’s List, and 103 earned a perfect 4.0 semester GPA.
• Expanded Staff and Coaches Professional Development program with sessions in the fall and spring semester focused on developing leadership skills. In the fall semester, coaches and staff participated in a two-part “Level Up” session aimed at leadership development. In the spring, a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion workshop and a session on leading through relationships were among the highlights. Overall around 30 coaches and staff participated in the sessions throughout the year. Also introduced “Leadership Lunches” as an opportunity for fellowship and mentoring between the Athletics Director and student-athlete captains from each sporting program.
• Men’s Soccer won both the Horizon League regular season and tournament championships. Cleveland State hosted the tournament at Krenzler Field and went on to appear in the NCAA Tournament, the first appearance for the program in ten years. Five players earned postseason all-league recognition, including Bojan Kolevski who was named Player of the Year. Head Coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic also earned his first Coach of the Year award. Jannis Schmidt was named the Horizon League’s Fall Scholar Athlete of the Season. The Vikings battled 13^th ranked Ohio State to a scoreless draw on September 21^st in front of a crowd of 1,301 which was the highest attendance on record at Krenzler Field since 2010.
• Men’s Basketball continued its success under first-year head coach Daniyal Robinson, winning 20 or more games for the third consecutive year.  Robinson set a CSU record for wins by a first-year head coach. The team made its third straight trip to the postseason with an appearance in the College Basketball Invitational. Tristan Enaruna was named first-team All-Horizon League.  Deante Johnson and Deshon Parker were both named to the All-Defensive team, with Johnson earning a spot on the team for the third consecutive season.  Men’s basketball average attendance at the Wolstein Center improved for the third consecutive season.
• Women’s Basketball won the Horizon League tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, and the first time since the 2009-10 season after setting a program record with 30 victories including a record 16 consecutive wins.  Destiny Leo was named the Horizon League Player of the Year, as well as being named a Mid Major Honorable Mention All-American by World Exposure Report.  In addition, Deja Williams was named the Horizon League’s sixth player of the year, with three additional student-athletes earning all-league recognition.  Head Women’s Basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier signed a contract extension through the 2027-28 season.
• Men’s Swimming and Diving’s Jackson Nester won a second consecutive individual title in the 400-yard Individual Medley at the 2023 Horizon League Championship.
• Wrestling set a program record with seven place finishers at the MAC Wrestling Championship. The team also had 13 student-athletes earn Academic All-MAC honors, the most of any team in the conference. The Vikings finished with the second highest team GPA in the country at 3.54 and had three Scholar All-Americans: DeAndre Nassar, JR Reed, and Marcus Robinson.
• Men’s Tennis won a Horizon League North Division championship and earned the top seed in the league tournament. Maxime Mareschal-Hay was named the Horizon League Player of the Year, and two additional student-athletes earned all-league honors.
• Women’s Tennis finished second in the regular season and runner-up at the Horizon League tournament. Ohiane Vicario was named Horizon League Player of the Year, and three additional student-athletes took home postseason all-league honors.
• Women’s Golf’s Sabrina Coffman won the first Horizon League individual championship in program history and qualified for NCAA Regionals. Coffman was named the Horizon League Player of the Year.
• Completed a successful first year for varsity e-sports, partnering with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a facility partnership at their Legion Lair, and a completed a successful inaugural season, with freshman Ruben Lipins winning multiple grand championship titles in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate.
• Nine CSU teams finished with a perfect Academic Progress Rate, with six teams achieving the mark over a multi-year period. This is the tenth consecutive year Cleveland State has had at least three teams post a perfect APR score.

In his third year with CSU during 2021-22, department accomplishments under Garrett's leadership included:

• Hired or promoted five head coaches; Ryan Williams (women’s golf), Jason Hudson (cross country/track & field), Christine Griffith (men’s & women’s fencing), Daniyal Robinson (men’s basketball), PJ Farrell (e-sports).
• Published the CSU Athletics Strategic Plan (2021-2025). 
• Restructured Strength & Conditioning department, promoting Tim Bilbrey to Assistant AD for Sports Performance and hiring Brandon Schoeneck as Director of Basketball Sport Performance. 
• Launched new fan app in partnership with From Now On. 
• Restructured internal business and facility operations and hired Matt Oberlin as Senior Associate AD for Business and Facility Operations. 
• Launched the Gebbett Family Endowed Fencing Scholarship through gift from Matthew and Ian Gebbett. 
• Launched media partnership with iHeart Media for men’s basketball radio rights and other local coverage of Viking Athletics. 
• Men’s soccer made its first appearance in the Horizon League Championship game since 2012, led by Jannis Schmidt (HL Player of the Year), Bojan Kolevski (HL Offensive Player of the Year) and Thomas M’Barek (HL Defensive Player of the Year). 
• The department combined for a 3.38 term GPA during the fall semester – its 30^th straight semester posting a 3.0 GPA or higher – with 179 Dean’s List and 36 President’s List honorees. 
• Raised funds and completed locker room renovation for men’s lacrosse in the Physical Education Building. 
• Announced Weight Class Champions wrestling scholarship endowment campaign. 
• Named Chelsea Blakely as Deputy AD for External Operations. 
• Re-launched the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame and inducted the 2022 class of Andrew Bailey (men’s golf), Beth Greulich (volleyball), Clinton Ransey (men’s basketball), Lee Reed (administrator), and Dara Toman (softball). 
• Men’s swimming and diving finished second at the Horizon League Championships, paced by Timothy Kubacki who was named the HL Swimmer of the Year and two individual event winners along with one relay victory. 
• Implemented several fan experience initiatives and ticket sales promotions, leading to an 84% Increase in men’s basketball attendance (vs. 2019-20). 
• Men’s basketball won back-to-back Horizon League Regular Season Championships and earned a spot in the 2022 NIT, marking the team’s second straight postseason appearance. 
• Wrestling’s Ben Smith captured the MAC title at 197 pounds, becoming the program’s first-ever MAC champion. Smith, along with Marcus Robinson and Riley Smucker earned bids to the NCAA Championship, representing Cleveland State on the national stage. 
• Women’s basketball made its first appearance in the Horizon League Championship game since 2010 and received a bid to the 2022 Women’s Basketball Invitational, advancing to the WBI title game for the second straight year. 
• Women’s golf won the Nevel Meade Collegiate during the spring portion of its schedule, picking up the program’s first team win since capturing the Horizon League Tournament title in 2017. 
• Recognized with promotion to Vice President and Director of Athletics and signed contract extension through 2025-26. 
• Lacrosse competed in its first-ever season as a conference member, competing as part of the ASUN during the 2022 campaign. 
• Women’s tennis captured the Horizon League Regular Season title after posting the program’s first-ever undefeated league campaign. 
• Softball recorded 22 wins on the year – the most since 2015 – and earned a spot in the Horizon League Tournament for the first time since 2016. 
• Shelbie Seeberg from women’s fencing was named the 2022 Spring Valedictorian for the College of Urban Affairs. 
• Launched varsity e-sports – the city of Cleveland’s first varsity intercollegiate e-sports program.
• Cleveland State graduated 65 student-athletes through the 2021 Fall, 2022 Spring and 2022 Summer commencements, with 45 student-athletes graduating with honors. 
• Cleveland State recorded its 31^st straight semester above a 3.0 GPA during the spring, posting a 3.36 department-wide GPA, with 158 Dean’s List and 25 President’s List honorees. 
• Thirty-six Vikings were named to their respective league All-Academic Teams, while women’s soccer earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award and wrestling was named an NWCA All-American Team. 
• Cleveland State combined for 38 All-League postseason honors on the year, in addition to eight major awards, while also picking up 33 total weekly league accolades. 
• The department finished with over $1 million in annual fundraising, a program record, behind growth in the Viking Fund (85%) and CSU Giving Day (21%) 

In Garrett’s second year (2020-21) leading the department, CSU Athletics logged a number of achievements:

• Successfully navigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including transitioning all 18 sport programs back to campus for training and competition.
• More than doubled membership in the Viking Fund’s second year of existence and increased overall giving to the athletics department by nearly 30% vs. 2019-20, including a record CSU Giving Day total of over $300,000.
• Led the Athletics Task Force for the CSU 2.0 project, resulting in a number of strategic recommendations shaping the future of CSU Athletics.
• Men’s basketball continued its’ resurgence under Head Coach Dennis Gates, winning both the Horizon League regular season and conference tournament championships. CSU appeared in the NCAA tournament for the third time in school history and Gates was recognized with his second consecutive HL Coach of the Year award.
• CSU accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Sun as an affiliate member in men’s lacrosse, securing an opportunity to compete for a conference title for the first time in the program’s young history beginning in 2021-22.
• Women’s basketball secured the program’s first postseason tournament title in school history, with a Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) Championship.  Senior guard Mariah White was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS award and also recognized as the Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year.
• Men’s Tennis secured an eighth overall conference title and third straight trip to the NCAA tournament. The team logged the first-ever point in postseason play, with a doubles victory in the match vs. nationally-ranked Kentucky. Senior Matthew Terry was recognized as the Horizon League Player of the Year.
• Anna Brandt earned the women’s track and field program its’ first-ever Horizon League event championship with her performance in the 800m race at the conference outdoor championships. Brandt was also recognized as Valedictorian of the CSU College of Education & Human Services.
• Men’s soccer senior Thomas M’Barek won the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award for men’s soccer, becoming CSU’s first student-athlete to receive the prestigious award.
• Women’s tennis senior Miruna Vasilescu was named Horizon League Player of the Year.
• Wrestling sent three qualifiers (DeAndre Nassar, Marcus Robinson, and Ben Smith) to the NCAA national meet, the most to represent CSU since 2007.
• Fencing qualified six student-athletes (Dorian Pichola, Amanda Provance, Shelbie Seeberg, Paul DiVenti, Mason Moskowitz, and De’Mario Steele) for NCAA championships, tying a program record.
• 69 Cleveland State student-athletes earned All-League postseason or weekly awards, including 10 Vikings that earned Major Awards in their respective sports.
• Academically, the Vikings notched a record-breaking cumulative GPA of 3.545 during the spring semester, which topped the previous record of 3.465, set during fall 2020. Cleveland State student-athletes set new department records in each of the last three semesters, dating back to spring 2020. Additionally, 26 Vikings were named All-League during the 2020-21 academic year.

In his first year with CSU, department accomplishments under Garrett’s leadership included: 

• Six head coaching hires (Sinisa Ubiparipovic in men’s soccer, Hannah Burandt in swimming and diving, Dennis Gates in men’s basketball, Andy German in lacrosse, Taylor Riggs in women’s golf, and Amber Williams in track & field) 
• Nearly 30 individual staff hires, including Deputy Athletics Directors Tyler Jones and Kelsie Gory. 
• The department launched the Viking Fund, an annual giving program which attracted nearly 100 members in its’ first year of existence. 
• Donors set a new record of giving with over $290,000 in donations on CSU Giving Day 2020.   
• Men’s basketball attendance at the Wolstein Center improved by over 50% year-over-year.  
• Developed the new Athletics Directors’ Leadership Council, an exclusive leadership program for a collection of student-athletes nominated by head coaches in each sport. 
• Women’s basketball set a school-record with an eleven-game winning streak, leading to a 21-11 overall record and a run to the Horizon League semifinals.
• Men’s basketball outplayed expectations with its’ first three-game win streaks in non-conference play since 2011-12 and conference play since 2014-15 – earning Head Coach Dennis Gates a Horizon League Coach of the Year award.
• 2^nd place conference finishes for men’s and women’s swimming and diving.
• Women’s golf setting the school record for an individual round.
• Men’s lacrosse earning their first-ever victory over a ranked opponent, a 12-11 win over No. 16 Air Force. 
• Andy Tulleners was named Midwest Fencing Conference Men’s Coach of the Year.
• Cross country, women’s basketball, women’s golf and women’s fencing received the Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Recognition Award, each posting multiyear APR scores in the top 10 percent of all NCAA teams in their respective sports.
• Individual Viking student athletes were recognized with 35 all-conference awards in 2019-20, highlighted by senior wrestler Evan Cheek’s qualification for NCAA nationals and senior tennis student-athlete Nico Mostardi’s program-record ranking of 93^rd in the nation.  
• In the classroom, student-athletes earned 19 all-academic conference team recognitions and the department finished with school record term GPA’s in both the fall (3.31) and spring (3.66). 
• For the first time in school history, all 18 of Cleveland State’s varsity programs earned a term GPA of at least a 3.00 during the spring 2020 semester.
• In the community, student-athletes organized a number of service initiatives including a SAAC food-drive during Bleed Green Week and an Adopt-a-Family holiday gift program. 

Prior to arriving at CSU, Garrett served as Executive Associate Athletics Director for External Operations and Chief Revenue Officer at Kansas State, where he was responsible for various aspects of department administration, including strategic revenue generation initiatives and fan experience programming. In his nine years at Kansas State, Garrett provided leadership that generated 46 sellouts in football, national Top 25 attendance rankings in men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer, volleyball and baseball and a 40 percent increase in overall ticket revenue. Garrett’s duties at Kansas State also included management of a donor portfolio accounting for over $1.5 million in contributions annually and over $2 million in major capital gifts over a two-year period. Garrett also spearheaded the department’s strategic planning efforts on three separate occasions, while his duties also included sport administration oversight, including coaching personnel evaluations and search management.

Garrett’s previous stops in intercollegiate athletics include serving as Assistant Athletics Director at Wichita State University from 2008 to 2010 and Director of Sales and Ticket Operations, with former Horizon League member University of Illinois at Chicago, from 2003 to 2008.

Garrett graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Illinois State in 2002 and proceeded to earn a Master’s in sport management and athletics administration from Indiana University in 2003.

A native of Channahon, Ill., Garrett and his wife Kristy have two children, Matthew (16) and Audrey (13) and reside in Avon, Ohio. 

What Others Are Saying About Scott Garrett 

John Currie, Director of Athletics at Wake Forest University and former Director of Athletics at Kansas State University:
"President Sands has hit a grand slam home run with the hire of Scott Garrett. Scott is deeply committed to the holistic development of student-athletes, is a tireless worker and is one of the most creative promoters in all of college athletics. From the moment we hired him at Kansas State in 2010, his intellect, drive and knack for innovation made our department and university community better. I am excited to watch him team with President Sands to turn Cleveland State into a leader in the Horizon League academically, athletically and in service to the community." 

Bob Vecchione, Executive Director of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics:
"Scott Garrett is an outstanding professional who will do a terrific job at CSU. He has the right combination of solid core values, creativity, teamwork and servant leadership to elevate Viking Athletics. I look forward to working with Scott and engaging CSU on our collaborative initiatives in college athletics."

Palma Juhasz, Former Student-Athlete, Kansas State University (BBA, '17):
"I am very happy for Scott Garrett getting this new role. He absolutely deserves it, and I am sure he will make a positive impact right away. He always looks for opportunities to enhance every student-athlete's experience and ultimately supports them to achieve their dreams. Without his tremendous effort the improvements to the facilities for the K-State tennis program would not have been possible. He will be greatly missed by many at K-State but I've no doubt he will be an exceptional athletic director for Cleveland State University." 

Gene Taylor, Director of Athletics, Kansas State University:
"Scott has been a tremendous asset to our department and an integral part of our senior team. We are very happy for Scott and his family. He has worked extremely hard to prepare himself for this great opportunity. His expertise in revenue generation, fan experience and ticketing has elevated K-State to achieving some of the nation's top attendance marks in recent years, while also improving and enhancing the overall experience for our fans at games. His tireless work ethic, passion and external background will be a winning combination for Cleveland State."