Eastern University Names Brad Fields Director of Athletics

ST. DAVIDS, Pa., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Eastern University Office of Student Development has announced that Brad Fields will be the new director of Athletics and Athletic Development. Fields begins his appointment on July 1 and will replace Mark Wagner who will be stepping away from his position as director of Athletics and Athletic Development as of June 8. Fields will be the Pennsylvania Christian University's first full-time Athletic director. Wagner will continue to serve at Eastern University as the head men's soccer coach.

"I have three great passions in my life: my faith, my family and intercollegiate athletics," Fields said. "Eastern is a special place and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to serve side by side with some wonderful people in the pursuit of glorifying God through athletic excellence. My wife, Julie, and I are also looking forward to having our family become part of the Eastern family."

Fields has a B.S. in economics and Spanish from Centre College in Danville, KY, and an M.S. from California University Aiken in sports management, with an emphasis in intercollegiate athletic administration. He has worked at Western Kentucky University (NCAA D-I) and University of South Carolina (NCAA D-II), gaining experience in sports information, athletics administration, personnel management and mentoring, fundraising, facilities management, strategic planning, compliance matters, and public relations. Fields is the recipient of many awards and honors for his work in media relations, including three national writing awards and Sports Information Director of the Year Award (Peach Belt Conference).

"Brad is the perfect person to fill this position for Eastern University at this time of positive growth and great potential. His enthusiasm and commitment to the student-athlete as well as to the mission of Eastern University are palpable," said Bettie Ann Brigham, vice president for Student Development at Eastern University.

Athletics at Eastern University made significant and positive changes in the years it has been under Mark Wagner's leadership. Eastern University gained membership into an excellent NCAA DIII athletic conference (the Middle Atlantic Conference), the Athletics department upgraded six coaching positions from part to full-time, completed the construction of two new turf fields, renovated two locker rooms, created http://www.goeasterneagles.com, founded The Varsity Club, and inducted the first members into the Eastern University Athletics Hall of Honor.

In addition, under Wagner's leadership the department has raised an average of $350,000 per year toward the Athletics budget. Student-athlete individual and overall GPAs have been strengthened during his tenure, with several teams attaining national and local recognition for academic success. For the past two years, Eastern Athletics has finished in the top 15 in the nation at the conclusion of each of the past two fall seasons (out of over 420 NCAA Division III universities) in The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, which recognizes all-around excellence in collegiate athletic programs.

"It has been a joy to serve with so many outstanding people," Wagner said. "I am amazed at how passionately people at Eastern labor to see the mission of this place advance both near and far. I look forward to remaining involved here for many years to come."

To learn more about the Eastern University Athletics Department, visit http://www.goeasterneagles.com

About Eastern University

Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences located at 1300 Eagle Road, St. Davids, PA. Eastern enrolls approximately 4,000 students and integrates its core values of faith, reason and justice into all of its undergraduate, graduate, professional, urban, Seminary and international programs. Visit http://www.eastern.edu

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SOURCE Eastern University