David Walsh To Retire At End Of 2022-23 Academic Year

RICHMOND, Va. -- After 33 years in college athletics and 23 years at the University of Richmond, Deputy Athletic Director and Chief of Operations David Walsh will retire at the end of 2022-2023 academic year. Serving as Deputy Athletic Director for the past 18 years, Walsh oversees facilities, events, marketing, public relations, ticketing, athletic capital projects and is the administrative liaison for men's basketball, football, men's lacrosse, women's soccer, women's swimming and men's and women's tennis. Walsh also served as interim athletic director for six months from July-December of 2017.

"I truly have been blessed to be able work in my dream profession and at such a great institution for the last 23 years," said Walsh. "I would like to thank all of the wonderful people I have met and worked with in college athletics and especially at Richmond. I will always be grateful to my first athletic director, Jim Miller, for being such a great mentor. I am also very appreciative for the support and guidance of my two other athletic directors at Richmond--Keith Gill and John Hardt."

Since arriving at Richmond in 2000, Walsh has been closely involved in numerous marquee projects, as well as the hiring of head coaches, while being an integral member of a leadership team that has overseen numerous championships and post season appearances from Spider student-athletes and coaches.

"David has been integral to the success of Spider Athletics for more than two decades, and his remarkable service to our student-athletes, coaches and staff will have a positive impact on our department for years to come," said Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt. "On behalf of Spider Atheltics and with a true sense of gratitude, I thank him for his years of dedicated service, congratulate him on his tremendous career, and wish him well on his well-deserved retirement. David has been a valued friend and trusted colleague for many years, and I will miss our time working together."

Walsh's tenure at Richmond includes highlights in virtually every aspect of Spider Athletics.

Capital Projects
Walsh led capital projects at every athletics facility on campus highlighted by the renovation of the Robins Center and Blandford-Everett Student-Athlete Performance Center, and the construction of Robins Stadium and Queally Athletics Center.

Sport Administrator for Football and Men's Basketball
The football program reached unprecedented success, with FCS playoff appearances in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2016, winning five conference championships and the FCS National Championship in 2008. Men's basketball has made three NCAA tournament appearances, won two Atlantic 10 Conference Championships and has had eight postseason appearances overall. The 2010 and 2011 teams were ranked in the top 25 in the nation. The Spiders won Atlantic 10 championships in 2011 and 2022, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2011 and the Second Round in 2022.

Sport Administrator for Olympic Sports
Walsh managed Spiders' Olympic sport programs and hired 10 head coaches in his tenure. The head coaches hired by Walsh have combined to win 41 conference championships. Baseball, women's soccer, field hockey, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse and women's swimming were nationally-ranked during Walsh's tenure.

Robins Center Atmosphere
Walsh led the growth and development of game atmosphere for men's basketball —starting with the renovations of the Robins Center in 2014-2015 and continuing through 2021-2022 with average attendance of more 6,000 which ranked third in the A10 and top-80 nationally.

Hiring of Head Coaches
Walsh worked closely with former athletic director Jim Miller in the hiring of football coaches Dave Clawson, Mike London, and Danny Rocco, and men's basketball coach Chris Mooney. He also worked with former athletic director Keith Gill on the hiring of current football coach Russ Huesman. Walsh hired current coaches Dan Chemotti (Men's Lacrosse), Adam Decker (Men's Golf), Matt Barany (Women's Swimming), Houston Barrick (Director of Tennis), Marty Beall (Women's Soccer), Lori Taylor (Women's Cross Country and Track and Field) and Steve Taylor (Men's Cross Country).

Implementation of Men's Lacrosse
Walsh engineered the implementation of men's lacrosse as a varsity sport in fall 2012. He hired head men's lacrosse coach Dan Chemotti, who guided the team to the Atlantic Sun tournament title, earning a bid to the NCAA championship in its first year as a varsity program in 2013-2014. Spider men's lacrosse has been regularly ranked in the top 25 in the nation and earned four NCAA tournament appearances in the first nine years of the program's history-2014, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Corporate Partnerships
Walsh teamed with the Leona Marketing Group to secure new, long-term apparel and corporate marketing partnerships. In July 2021, the Spiders began a five-year deal with adidas to provide footwear, apparel and accessories for the athletic department. Also, in July 2021, the Spiders entered into a 10-year marketing and multimedia rights partnership with Playfly Sports for in-venue and event sponsorships, promotions, and corporate hospitality, as well as radio, TV and social media sponsorships.
Walsh's 33-year collegiate career includes previous stops at North Carolina State, Jacksonville University and the University of Miami (Florida). He earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990 and his master's degree from St. Thomas University in sport administration in 1991.

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