Friday, November 15, 2019
by Concordia Athletic Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – Matthew Martin was named the vice president & director of intercollegiate athletics at Concordia University-Portland announced by university officials on Nov. 15.

“We are thrilled to bring Matt Martin to Concordia as the vice president for intercollegiate athletics,” said Concordia chief student affairs officer Megan Bouslaugh, who oversees the Cavalier athletic department. “Matt stood out in our search from the moment he applied and continued to impress throughout our process. We had some incredible applicants in our pool, but it was clear that Matt, with his energy, ideas, experience, faith and servant's heart, was the next leader of Concordia-Portland athletics.”

Martin spent the last three years at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where his main role was to oversee all aspects of the athletic department’s external units including major gift fundraising and athletic development, marketing, ticket sales, sports information and communications, corporate sponsorships, broadcast services, and trademark licensing. Winthrop competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Big South Conference.

“I would like to thank president Johnnie Driessner and Megan Bouslaugh, as well as the entire search committee for this tremendous opportunity,” said Martin. “I am deeply honored to have been selected to serve as Concordia’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics. My wife and I are excited to get back to the Pacific Northwest and become active members of the Concordia community. I look forward to meeting our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters, and cannot wait to begin building upon Concordia’s rich tradition of excellence.”

Martin replaces interim athletic director Lauren Eads, who departed her position at Concordia on September 27 after serving for one full year. Martin’s first day at Concordia will be December 9.

“We had a field of fantastic candidates, and Matt was the person who really stood out from a number of different groups he met on campus,” said 32nd-year men’s soccer head coach Dan Birkey, who was a member of the hiring committee. “He has a wide field of skills and assets, and he checked all the boxes. He is very excited to get out here, and stepping up to the challenges in our position. The work ethic is outstanding, and everywhere he has been he has shown a high work rate and a love for people. I am looking forward to him getting going in December.”

 During his time at Winthrop, Martin helped lead the development, alignment, and execution of the athletic department’s strategic plan, which specifically and intentionally aligned with the university’s overarching strategic plan. He was part of an administrative leadership team that oversaw student-athletes achieve a 3.26 cumulative grade point average and a 90 percent graduation success rate in each of his years at Winthrop.

“Matt is unquestionably focused on the student experience as the key to success at CU; not only the experience of student-athletes, but also for our entire student body,” said Bouslaugh. “We are excited and blessed to welcome Matt to the Concordia community in December.”

Prior to his time at Winthrop, Martin served as the assistant athletic director for major gifts at the University of South Dakota foundation (2015-16), as the manager of business development at Learfield Sports (2013-15), and as an external revenue coordinator at Eastern Washington University (2011-13).

Martin completed his master’s degree in physical education, health & recreation with an emphasis in sport administration at Eastern Washington University in 2013. He also received his bachelor’s degree in finance from EWU, where he graduated magna cum laude. Martin is a native of LaCrosse, Washington.