Nov. 11, 2003

Dr. Joni Comstock, former director of athletics at the University of North Carolina Asheville, was named Director of Athletics and Recreation at American University.

"Dr. Comstock is a consummate professional with wide experience in leading athletics programs," said American University President Benjamin Ladner. "She is an excellent match for the values and aspirations of AU's athletics future."

Comstock comes to AU after three years as the athletics director at UNC Asheville, where she led a departmental reorganization, developed a prioritization of sports, and hired new head coaches for women's basketball, baseball, tennis, and track and field. Comstock helped the department increase funding by 30 percent through marketing and development initiatives.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as American University's director of athletics and cannot wait to begin working with our coaches and student-athletes," said Dr. Comstock. "I am committed to furthering AU's pursuit of excellence on the playing field and in the classroom. Additionally, I look forward to reaching out to our alumni and friends in the DC area through active involvement in the community."

Prior to UNC Asheville, Comstock spent 11 years at Purdue University where she served as associate athletics director. At Purdue, she was in charge of 13 men's and women's sports and the planning and oversight of academic services. Comstock previously served as an assistant athletics director at the University of Illinois; and at Lincoln College in Illinois, she was an assistant director of athletics, head coach of the women's volleyball and men's tennis teams, and an assistant coach of women's basketball.

Comstock earned her bachelor's degree in physical education and health promotion in 1979 from Eastern Illinois University. She also earned a master's degree in educational administration from Illinois State University and a doctorate in administration of higher education from the University of Illinois.

American University fields a 19-sport NCAA Division I athletics program featuring 10 women's sports and nine for men, and has entered its third year of membership in the Patriot League. Since joining the Patriot League, AU has captured league championships in men's cross country, women's cross country, women's lacrosse, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's tennis, women's tennis and women's volleyball, and a regular-season title in men's basketball.