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Needham’s Williams named Bentley AD

Needham resident Vaughn Williams, senior associate athletics director at Boston College, has been named the director of athletics at Bentley University, Vice President for Student Affairs J. Andrew Shepardson announced Monday morning in an email to the Bentley community. Williams will begin his new role in mid-September.

Williams, a University of Massachusetts graduate, brings 27 years of extensive athletic administration leadership with him and becomes only the third athletics director in the university’s history.

“Today begins a new era for Bentley University Athletics,” said Dr. Shepardson, who led a year-long strategic review of Bentley Athletics and the search that led to Williams’ hiring. “Bentley’s vision for athletics is to boldly pursue excellence in competition while building pride and tradition for our entire community, and Vaughn Williams is the leader to help us achieve that vision. I am excited to partner with Vaughn in the continued development of our student-athletes as leaders inside and outside the classroom.” 

“I want to thank Vice President Shepardson for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead Bentley Athletics into the future,” said Williams in a press release. “This is a tremendous opportunity in an unprecedented time to build on the university’s commitment to providing student-athletes with an experience that leads them to life-long success,” continued the new athletics director. “I’m looking forward to serving Bentley student-athletes and helping them to be a force in everything they do, on and off the playing fields.”

Williams, 51, has been the senior associate athletic director of administration at BC since 2017, following six years as the director of athletics at Kennesaw State University. It was his second tour of duty with the Eagles, where he was the assistant athletic director for operations and facilities from 1998-2004.

His duties since his return to Chestnut Hill included serving as the sports administrator for multiple sports (including football and men’s ice hockey). His many responsibilities also included overseeing the marketing and fan engagement team, campus recreation, intramurals and club sports, capital projects and the event and facility management team.

Williams and his wife, Eileen, reside in Needham with their children, Aidan (13), Lacey (11) and Austin (11).

Among those to speak highly of Williams in the Bentley University press release were Martin Jarmond, the former BC athletic director and now the AD at UCLA, as well as current BC men’s hockey coach and legend Jerry York. 

“Vaughn Williams is a man of great integrity, faith and conviction,” said Jarmond. “His ability to connect with people and lead will be a major asset to the Bentley University community. I’m very happy for Vaughn, Eileen and their family as they begin this new journey.”

“Vaughn’s hiring is a home run for Bentley,” said York. “(Men’s hockey coach) Ryan Soderquist and Bobby DeFelice will be extremely happy with him. He is very personable, very honest and has an unbelievable work ethic. He spends a lot of time with the coaches. I love the positive vibes he has. As a former college athlete himself, he has a good feel for what the coaches need and what the players are going through. I can’t be more excited about Vaughn’s selection as AD.”

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