Staff Directory
- Title:
- Vice President & Director of Athletics
- Email:
Ryan Ivey entered his third year as Vice President and Director of Athletics at Louisiana Tech in 2026-27, leading the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters into a new era of Louisiana Tech Athletics.
Since arriving in Ruston in March 2024, Ivey has guided Louisiana Tech through a period of significant progress and transformation, highlighted by the University's transition to the Sun Belt Conference in July 2026. The move strengthened Louisiana Tech's regional alignment, renewed longstanding rivalries, and created new opportunities for student-athletes, alumni, and fans while positioning the department for continued growth in the rapidly evolving landscape of intercollegiate athletics.
The transition came on the heels of measurable department-wide competitive progress. Louisiana Tech finished 153rd nationally in the 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings, 35 positions higher than its average finish since 2014 and the department's second-highest finish during that span.
That progress included a resurgence on the football field as the Bulldogs posted an eight-win season and captured the 2025 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, securing Louisiana Tech's first winning season and bowl victory since 2019. The Lady Techsters added another championship to one of college basketball's most storied traditions by capturing the 2025-26 Conference USA women's basketball regular-season title.
Louisiana Tech student-athletes also reached new heights in the classroom. During the 2025-26 academic year, Tech student-athletes posted a 3.42 spring quarter GPA, the highest single-term mark in department history, and a 3.37 overall GPA for the year. Louisiana Tech recorded 699 Athletics Director's Honor Roll selections and 33 graduates, while a record 233 Bulldogs and Lady Techsters were named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, including 66 Academic Medalists.
Ivey's tenure has included an increased emphasis on building the resources and infrastructure necessary for sustainable success. Louisiana Tech Athletics generated more than $17.3 million in total giving through 7,309 gifts, realigned its annual giving calendar with the athletics calendar, and introduced a Priority Points program for donors and students. The impending opening of the Origin Bank Center for Student-Athlete Success will create a centralized home for academic support, leadership development, career preparation, NIL education, and other student-athlete resources.
Louisiana Tech has continued to expand the reach of its brand and its connection with fans under Ivey. The department expanded its in-house broadcasting operation to produce more than 100 home events annually while launching new fan-development and engagement initiatives, including Blue Bloods, Louisiana Tech Athletics' official student fan organization.
Shortly after his arrival, Ivey introduced the CHAMP vision and values to establish a shared direction for Louisiana Tech Athletics. Built around the vision of "Serving people on a purpose-driven path to advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand," CHAMP centers the department around five core values: Connection, Charge, Character, Community and Competition. In the spring of 2026, Ivey built upon that foundation with the launch of One More, a department-wide initiative challenging student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and supporters to recognize the collective impact created when everyone commits to taking one more step forward.
Ivey was named Louisiana Tech's Vice President and Director of Athletics in February 2024 and officially began his duties in March. He arrived in Ruston after serving 6 years as the Director of Athletics at Stephen F. Austin, where he oversaw the Lumberjacks' 18-sport athletics program.
During this time, the Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks won 21 conference championships and one national championship. In addition, he oversaw the completion of over $30 million in facility renovations while securing over $15million in gifts, including the four largest single gifts in department history.
Prior to SFA, Ivey spent four years as Director of Athletics at Austin Peay, where the Governors enjoyed one of the most successful periods in department history. His tenure included multiple conference championships, facility improvements, and growth in fundraising, ticket sales, and corporate partnerships.
Ivey previously served as Director of Athletics at Texas A&M-Commerce, helping lead a comprehensive transformation of the Lions' athletics program that included competitive success, facility improvements, and increased revenue generation. He also held a variety of administrative roles at McNeese State before being elevated to Interim Director of Athletics.
A native of Mayfield, Kentucky, Ivey was a football student-athlete at the University of Memphis, where he was a member of the Tigers' 2003 New Orleans Bowl championship team and 2004 GMAC Bowl team. He earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees in sports management from Memphis.
Ivey and his wife, Kelley, have two sons, Jett and Ace.
Tommy McClelland, Rice Vice President and Director of Athletics
“I commend Dr. Henderson and the committee on an outstanding hire. Ryan Ivey is one of the most well-respected athletics administrators in the entire country. He has demonstrated success every place he has been. Having worked alongside Ryan for over five years, I can attest to his work ethic, leadership, and vision for an athletics department and its student-athletes. More importantly, he is a wonderful person, husband, and father. Ryan, Kelley, Jett, and Ace will be great additions to the Ruston Community. He is a perfect fit for Louisiana Tech!”
Brian Thornton, Western Athletic Conference Commissioner
“Ryan has proven to be an exceptional leader and even better person. During his time in the WAC, he was a huge contributor towards our goals building the league into a premier conference. He is a tireless worker who is always willing to roll up his sleeves and jump in whenever needed. It won’t take long for Ryan to have a pulse on how to take LA Tech to the next level!”
Jamie Boggs, Grand Canyon Vice President of Athletics
“Ryan is one of the best in the business. He is a culture-builder, a strategic thinker, and a selfless, humble leader. He will invest in the people and community at Louisiana Tech and he will move every area forward. Congratulations on an outstanding hire.”
Jeremy McClain, Southern Miss Director of Athletics
“Congratulations to Ryan and Louisiana Tech … this is a great hire for all involved! Ryan Ivey is one of the most genuine leaders in our industry and will positively impact everyone around him. His track record of success at multiple institutions speaks for itself, and that experience will allow him to be a difference maker in Ruston.”
Graham Neff, Clemson Director of Athletics
“I could not be more excited for Ryan and the LA Tech Family – a perfect fit! Ryan’s reputation as an innovator that ‘gets it done’ will be invaluable leadership for the Bulldogs. I am very proud and happy for the Ivey’s.”
Wren Baker, West Virginia Vice President and Director of Athletics
“I have known Ryan Ivey for many years and have been very impressed with his incredible track record of building successful programs and leading with integrity. He is respected throughout intercollegiate athletics and has proven to be particularly successful at hiring talented coaches and administrators. Louisiana Tech is a tradition-rich program and I look forward to watching Ryan help add to the storied history at LA Tech.”
Brent Jones, Troy Director of Athletics
“I am extremely happy for Ryan on being appointed Director of Athletics at Louisiana Tech. LA Tech has an illustrious history of success and Ryan is the right person at the right time to lead Bulldog Athletics into the future of intercollegiate athletics. I have known Ryan personally for almost 20 years and he is a man of character, integrity, vision, and passion. He will do an amazing job and continue to build upon the great work of Eric Wood and Tommy McClelland.”
