Temple University Athletics
Temple University Names Bradshaw New Director of Athletics
7.12.02 | General
Bradshaw, formerly director of athletics at DePaul University, will begin at Temple on August 1, 2002.
In announcing the appointment, President Adamany stated, "Bill Bradshaw is an outstanding choice to lead Temple athletics during these challenging times. He understands the importance of bridging athletics with our primary academic mission, and he has a firm grasp on the management and budgetary imperatives of operating a nationally ranked Division I athletic program."
"Bradshaw brings a broad set of skills and experience to the position, and his prior achievements in marketing, fundraising, building attendance, and conference leadership bode well for Temple athletics," added Howard Gittis, Chairman of Temple's Board of Trustees.
Bradshaw's appointment was lauded by members of Temple's Board of Trustees, and the faculty representative to the NCAA. Bradshaw was the unanimous choice of the search committee that was headed by Chairman Gittis, and which included faculty, alumni, trustee and administration representatives.
Bradshaw has built a national reputation as a major figure in intercollegiate athletics. Bradshaw is completing his term as the elected president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and as chair of the Conference USA Athletic Directors.
"I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to join the Temple University team, and it will be great to be back in Philadelphia. Temple athletics has a long and storied history, and I look forward to working with our coaches, staff, student-athletes, faculty, administrators and alumni to ensure that the Owls' Athletic Department is among the best in the nation," said Bradshaw.
As athletic director at DePaul for the past 16 years, Bradshaw made dramatic changes in the Division I men's and women's intercollegiate athletic program, including bringing the program from independent status into the Great Midwest Conference in 1990--a major goal when he took responsibility for the program. Bradshaw was instrumental in the formation of the Great Midwest and also the current league, Conference USA, which DePaul joined as a charter member in 1995-96.
Since 1990, 26 DePaul teams in seven different sports participated in NCAA post season championships. Bradshaw increased athletic grants in all sports and developed the women's intercollegiate program as one of the highest in percentage of grants-in aid and participation in Division I. Under Bradshaw's leadership, ticket sales, television and corporate sponsorship revenues and basketball home attendance all set new records.
Bradshaw also oversaw the planning and construction of new facilities, including an outdoor soccer/softball field, a multi-purpose health and fitness center and a state of-the-art athletic center for the intercollegiate program.
His new post at Temple marks a return to Philadelphia for Bradshaw, who served as athletic director at LaSalle University (1977-86) before going to DePaul. He oversaw the Explorers program as it expanded to 23 Division I sports and won the Metro Atlantic Conference Commissioners' Cup his last three years there.
As an undergraduate at LaSalle, Bradshaw was an All-American baseball player and played two seasons professionally in the Texas Rangers organization until a broken ankle ended his playing career. In 1994, Bradshaw was inducted into the LaSalle University Athletic Hall of Fame.
In addition to his bachelor's degree from LaSalle (1969), Bradshaw holds a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Niagara University (1972), where he was the head baseball coach from 1972-74 and alumni director from 1974-76. Bradshaw and his wife, Yvette, have five children.
Bradshaw succeeds interim AD Jack Lengyel, who assumed the post in February when Dave O'Brien stepped down as Temple's director of athletics following a six-year tenure.
