Robert Morris announced Monday that the university has named Chris King as vice president and director of athletics, effective June 1.
King is currently director of intercollegiate athletics at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he won the NACDA Under Armour Division I-AAA Athletic Director of the Year Award last year.
A native of nearby Apollo, King is a 1994 graduate of Robert Morris’ sport management program.
“I’m honored and humbled to serve as the next director of athletics at Robert Morris University,” King said in a statement. “As an alumnus, I’m excited to have the opportunity to guide an athletics department with a championship culture and a history of success, and to be part of a team making a significant impact as part of a nationally ranked doctoral university.”
King has been at UTRGV, formerly the University of Texas-Pan American, since 2009. Previously an independent NCAA Division I institution, under King’s leadership UTRGV joined the Western Athletic Conference in 2013.
“Chris King will take RMU athletics to the next level,” added RMU president Chris Howard. “He prizes above all else the student-athlete experience, and his achievements at UTRGV and throughout his career will bring an unparalleled level of leadership to our athletics program.”
King previously worked at Central Florida, where he was assistant athletic director for compliance and assistant athletic director, and Alabama, where he was associate athletic director of compliance and associate athletic director for administration.
Among 100 candidates RMU considered to succeed Craig Coleman, who stepped down in December 2018 after 13 years as director of athletics, King has his bachelor’s degree in sport management from RMU and a master’s in education from Campbell University. He and his wife, Alicia, have two daughters, Kylie and Mackenzie.
“RMU played a profound role in my professional career and trajectory, and I am confident I would not be working in college athletics without the education and opportunities this institution provided to me 25 years ago,” said King. “My family and I are thankful to President Howard and the selection committee for providing the opportunity to represent my alma mater.”
