By: Noah Hughes, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
DANVILLE, Ky. – Michael Coffey has been named Deputy Athletic Director and Chief of Staff for Centre College athletics, the department announced today. The evolved position will serve as an administrator that oversees and directs key athletic efforts and also works to streamline the department's units.
"It has been a tremendous experience for me here at Centre," said Coffey. "I am beyond grateful and honored to have been able to intern with athletics and to have helped begin conducting operations at Champions Hall. I humbly look forward to taking on a more expansive role in which I hope to contribute, if even in some small way, to the success of our students, the athletic department, and the college.
"When I transitioned from the military, I wasn't necessarily looking for a job, but more so I was in search of a new purpose and my next team. I found that here at Centre College. I like the people first/winning matters culture here at Centre. There is a mindset that if the Colonels deploy somewhere, they go to win. It's not just to participate, to try hard, or to get an honorable mention."
Director of Athletics
Brad Fields '98 added: "Following a distinguished 30-year military career in the United States Army, including the last three years at West Point, we have had the privilege of having Mike on our staff at Centre for the past year. Working in both mentorship as well as operational capacities, Mike has established himself as a leader. Mike is bright, dedicated, and resourceful, but above all, Mike has the same love of molding young lives that the rest of us do within Centre Athletics. Even more than his exceptional experience in building teams, it's the person that Mike is that has me most excited about his assuming this new opportunity.
"This is a special time to be associated with Centre Athletics. Coming off one of our most successful years in history, opening the largest project in the 205-year history of the College, and working alongside some of the best and brightest coaches and student-athletes anyway, I am excited for Mike to take on the Deputy AD / Chief of Staff role and help us continue moving forward."
Coffey has been in Danville for a year and originally served in an intern role alongside athletic leadership focusing on mentoring, leadership, and performance. He was later promoted to Director of Champions Hall where he oversees the day-to-day management of Centre's largest facility.
Prior to his time at Centre, Coffey was most recently the Principal Advisor to Service Academy Superintendent at the United States Military Academy West Point. He was an Executive Level Advisor and member of the Board of Directors of the 8,000-person academy for three years.
While at West Point, Coffey directed a 47-month leader development program for future officers. That program was used for 4,000 participants and focused on liberal arts and engineering academics, military training, physical fitness, and character development. He also secured millions of dollars' worth of funding for various areas of the academy and approved plans for construction, repair, and upgrade of infrastructure.
Centre's newest Deputy AD also served in leadership roles for the United States Army at bases in California, Georgia, and Texas. Coffey also served in management roles on bases in Alaska and Kentucky.
