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KENNESAW, Ga. – After spending 23 years guiding Kennesaw State University’s Athletic Department, Dr. Dave Waples has announced he is stepping down as Athletic Director at KSU effective August 15. Senior Associate Athletic Director and head softball coach Scott Whitlock will take over on an interim basis at that time. The announcement was made by KSU President Dr. Daniel S. Papp at a press conference Monday afternoon.
“Throughout his tenure, Dave has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of KSU through athletics,” said Dr. Papp. “Today, we express our deep gratitude for all that Dave has contributed, and we celebrate his success and his many contributions to the university’s athletics program. Today is the day to celebrate Dr. Dave Waples.”
“My goal as a young man was to make a living in sports,” Dr. Waples said. “KSU helped me achieve that dream, and I will never be able pay this university back for what it has done for me. I am especially grateful to both Dr. Betty Siegel and Dr. Daniel Papp, both of whom gave me the opportunity to work with some of the best coaches, faculty, staff, administrators, and student-athletes.”
Twice during his career, Waples led Kennesaw State through bold reclassification initiatives. In 1994, the Owls transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division II status. The results were beyond reproach, as Kennesaw State won 38 Peach Belt Conference championships and 26 NCAA Regional championships during the next 11 years. In addition to the conference and regional titles, the Owls also won D-II National Championships in softball (1995 and 1996), baseball (1996), women’s soccer (2003), and men’s basketball (2004).
In 2005, the Owls embarked on their second transition phase under Waples, moving from NCAA Division II status up to NCAA Division I. As members of the Atlantic Sun Conference, the Owls have continued to find success in athletic competition. Owls teams have won at least one A-Sun Championship in four of the past five athletic years, including four in 2009-10.
During 2009-10, KSU’s first season as full-fledged members of Division I, KSU saw the volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s tennis, and softball teams all reach the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in the first year of eligibility for each of those teams.
“Dave has been instrumental in the growth of Kennesaw State’s athletic program, and he had a great hand in making Kennesaw State University attractive to the Atlantic Sun Conference,” A-Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart said. “When we evaluated KSU for A-Sun membership, it was clear he was committed to overall success and we knew we would be working with strong leadership and a quality individual as AD. We will miss Dave’s contributions to the A-Sun; he was a pleasure to work with and I know he will remain a great friend and fan of KSU and the A-Sun.”
A native of Columbus, Ohio, he earned his B.S. degree at West Liberty University. He earned his M.Ed. degree at Temple University and his Ed. D. degree at West Virginia University. Before becoming one of the country's top administrators, Waples had a successful career as both a player and coach. He began his coaching career as a football assistant at the University of New Mexico. Among his numerous coaching duties in various sports, Waples worked at West Liberty and Valdosta State as well as coaching high school in his home state of Ohio.
During his 11-year career at Valdosta State (1972-1983) he coached baseball as an assistant to Tommy Thomas. Waples is also credited with starting up the first-ever cross country program at VSU were he won four consecutive South Atlantic Conference titles from 1975-78. His team finished 3rd at the NCAA Nationals in 1978.
Waples will formally retire from Kennesaw State on June 30, 2011. In the interim, he will assist Dr. Papp with several athletics-related special projects, including addressing the recommendations of the university’s Football Exploratory Committee that are slated for submission in September. He also will assist in the development of the university’s Athletic Association infrastructure, a process that is currently underway.
Whitlock will become the third Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in the history of the Kennesaw State program. Named Associate Athletic Director during the 2004-05 season, Whitlock has been part of the KSU Athletic Department since his arrival on campus in 1985. Starting with KSU as an assistant women's basketball and softball coach, Whitlock has become respected on a national level for his softball coaching acumen, earning induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
“I want to thank Dr. Papp for having the confidence in me for this assignment,” Whitlock said. “I want to make sure that our student-athletes have the best college experience possible. I also want to build upon the foundation that has been laid for us so that we continue to be productive, professional, and positive. Hopefully, we will continue to grow and continue to be one of the crown jewels of Kennesaw State University."
Whitlock has coached 51 All-Americans while at Kennesaw State. His coaching record includes 18 consecutive seasons of 35 or more wins from 1991-2008. He has also spent time on the coaching staff of the United States National Softball Team. In 2006, he traveled with the squad and was a member of the USA staff that guided the U.S. to gold medal wins at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City and the ISF Women’s World Championship in Beijing, China. The 2007 summer saw Whitlock serve again as a member of the national team staff, as they captured the Canada Cup and World Cup titles.
In 2001, Whitlock joined other successful head coaches such as Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden and Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt as a contributor to Dr. Stephen Brennan’s book
Six Psychological Factors for Success. In addition, Whitlock has written numerous articles for the NFCA’s Fastpitch Delivery Magazine.
Whitlock was also a key figure in the Owls move into their new state-of-the-art facility, the Bobbie Bailey Complex. The complex, which opened in February 2004, is considered by many as one of the crown jewels of fastpitch facilities. During the planning process, Whitlock aided in fund-raising activities and was instrumental in the facility’s design and amenities.
Whitlock is married to Susan Blakely Whitlock, Kennesaw State’s Student-Athletic Advisory Council Coordinator and a Physical Education instructor at the university. The couple lives in Marietta, Ga., and are the parents of two children, Lacey and Blake.
(Information from KSU University Relations was used in this story)
