Following a distinguished 19-year tenure as head volleyball coach at the University of Charleston, Dr. Bren Stevens was appointed to lead the Department of Athletics on January 23, 2012. Since assuming the role of Director of Athletics, Dr. Stevens has transformed the UC Athletics program into a national Division II powerhouse.
Under her leadership, the Golden Eagles captured the inaugural Mountain East Conference Commissioner’s Cup in 2014 and have gone on to claim first-place finishes in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The award recognizes the institution with the most successful all-around athletics program based on conference standings.
Dr. Stevens’ influence has garnered national recognition, earning her the Nike Executive of the Year award from Women Leaders in College Sports and the Athletic Director of the Year by the Division II Athletic Directors Association in 2022. These honors reflect the nationwide respect she commands as an exemplary administrator and trailblazer.
Her service to the broader athletics community is extensive. She has held numerous leadership roles within the NCAA, including serving as the NCAA Division II Vice Chair of the Management Council and membership on key committees such as Planning and Finance, Championships, Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, and Branding and Identity. She has also served on the NCAA Volleyball and Softball Regional Advisory Committees and is a proud graduate of the Women Leaders in Sports Executive Institute.
Dr. Stevens was appointed to the NACDA Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA) Board of Directors in 2013 and continues to mentor emerging professionals, particularly women and minorities, through NCAA and D2ADA programs. In July 2021, she was named President of the D2ADA, a role that underscores her national leadership within collegiate athletics.
A proud alumna and decorated four-sport student-athlete at Morris Harvey College (now UC), Dr. Stevens was inducted into the UC Hall of Fame in 2006. Her competitive spirit as an athlete continues to inform her leadership today.
Over two decades of executive experience have equipped Dr. Stevens with specialized expertise in strategic planning, budget oversight, culture building, emotional intelligence, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development. These competencies have allowed her to elevate UC Athletics into a destination for top Division II talent.
Notable achievements during her tenure include:
· A Top-10 national finish in the 2023–24 NCAA Division II Learfield Directors' Cup (7th place) and a 29th-place finish in 2024–25.
· 99 team appearances in NCAA tournaments across 15 sports, highlighted by two National Championships in Men’s Soccer (2017 and 2019).
· A doubling of the student-athlete population, from 311 in 2012 to 624 in 2024–25.
· 1,017 inductees into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national student-athlete honor society for juniors and seniors with GPAs of 3.4 or higher.
· Expansion of sport offerings, including women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor/outdoor track, men’s volleyball, women’s lacrosse, and multiple developmental programs.
· Successfully placing men’s volleyball in NCAA Division I, competing in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA).
Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Stevens brings unwavering integrity, boundless energy, and an inclusive vision to UC Athletics. She led the creation of the department’s first-ever Strategic Plan, focused on academic achievement, competitive excellence, program integrity, and community engagement.
In 2019, Dr. Stevens was promoted to Vice President of the University of Charleston and now serves as a vital member of the President’s Cabinet, helping shape the institution’s direction and impact well beyond athletics.
