The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) has hired Eric Ward as the conference's third-ever full-time commissioner. He will assume the role on January 1, 2023. Ward will be replacing Rob Miller, who is retiring after holding the position for 11 years.
As commissioner for a fellow NAIA conference, the Mid-South Conference, Ward spent the last 10 years orchestrating an expansion in member schools and in the number of sports sponsored. The MSC currently has 12 full-time members and 25 affiliate members competing for 28 conference championships.
"The search committee, our athletic directors, and our member presidents were all impressed with Eric's commitment to servant leadership and his ability to navigate the challenges of expanding a conference," said WHAC Council of Presidents chair and Indiana Tech President Dr. Karl W. Einolf. "The WHAC is poised to build upon the strong successes that are Rob's legacy. We are confident that Eric will guide us to an even higher level of excellence."
Ward has been a major player in the world of collegiate athletics for the last 20 years. He is the current chair of the NAIA's National Administrative Council - which oversees issues related to sport and postseason competition throughout the NAIA - and is also the chair of the NAIA Conference Commissioners Association. His role in the NAC puts him as an ex-officio member of the NAIA Council of Presidents and he is an active member of the NAIA National Coordinating Committee that serves as an appellate body and makes determinations on amateur status.
With experience as an athletics director at Georgetown College (Ky.) and as a chief executive officer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass, Ward brings a variety of skills to his new role.
"The WHAC schools are among the NAIA's finest member institutions, both academically and athletically, and I look forward to working with the conference presidents, athletic directors, sports information directors, athletic trainers, coaches and staff to continue to provide the best student-athlete experience possible," commented Ward. "My sincerest thanks to President Einolf and the WHAC Council of Presidents for their confidence in selecting me as the next commissioner of the WHAC."
