ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (TheMIAA.com) – Missouri Western State University has named Josh Looney as the University’s next director of athletics. Looney, currently director of athletics at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, will start at Missouri Western on August 7.
Prior to ESU, Looney was associate director of NCAA Division II from 2012 to 2015. He worked for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2012 and the Orlando Magic in 2005 and 2006. His work with the Chiefs included spending time on Missouri Western’s campus for the team’s summer training camp, which has been held on campus since 2010.
“I believe that Josh brings the right mix of experience and enthusiasm to lead Missouri Western’s athletic programs,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “His familiarity with Missouri Western and proven leadership within the NCAA and Division II intercollegiate athletics give him a unique perspective to further strengthen, support and promote Griffon athletics at every level.”
“We are thrilled to be joining the Missouri Western family,” Looney said. “The opportunity to help shape the future vision of Griffon athletics is an honor, and I am grateful to President Vartabedian and the search committee for their confidence in me. I look forward to working with all of our fans and constituents to build an athletic program that is recognized for excellence in the classroom, in competition and within the community.”
As director of athletics at East Stroudsburg since 2015, Looney oversaw 20 NCAA Division II sports. Under his leadership, student-athletes had a grade point average of 3.22 last year, the highest in department history, with 40 percent earning Athletic Director’s Honor Roll honors by earning a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. He led the athletic department to the school’s highest Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference all-sports trophy finish in 21 years, and East Stroudsburg led PSAC’s 18 institutions with more than 6,000 hours of community engagement. Annual athletic scholarships awarded increased 22 percent, and the school secured its largest athletics unrestricted cash corporate sponsor.
“We were impressed with Josh’s steadfast dedication to helping student athletes achieve success academically and personally,” said Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs and chair of the search committee. “Even with his proven track record promoting and growing athletics programs within the community and region, you can tell he puts his student athletes and coaches first.”
Looney earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas – like Missouri Western, a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Conference. He holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in organizational leadership from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is nearing completion on a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Education from Creighton University in Omaha.
Looney and his wife, Jenna, have one daughter, Parker.
