Derrick Gragg

Last updated

Derrick Gragg
Current position
Title Athletic director
Team Northwestern
Conference Big Ten
Biographical details
Born (1969-11-16) November 16, 1969 (age 54)
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Alma mater Vanderbilt (BS, 1992)
Wayne State (MA, 1999)
Arkansas (PhD, 2004)
Playing career
1988–1991 Vanderbilt
Position(s) Wide receiver
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1993–1995 Vanderbilt (dir. student life)
1995–1997 Missouri (dir. compliance)
1997–2000 Michigan (assistant AD)
2000–2006 Arkansas (senior associate AD)
2006–2013 Eastern Michigan
2013–2021 Tulsa
2021–present Northwestern

Derrick Gragg (born November 16, 1969) [1] is an American college athletics administrator. He is the athletic director at Northwestern University, a position he has held since 2021. He previously spent eight years, 2013 to 2021, as the athletic director at the University of Tulsa, seven years, 2006 to 2013, as the athletic director at Eastern Michigan University, six years, 2000 to 2006, as senior associate athletic director at the University of Arkansas. Gragg played college football at Vanderbilt University, lettering as a wide receiver for the Commodores for four seasons, 1988 to 1991.

Contents

Early life, education and NCAA football

Gragg was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, where he played football and basketball at Lee High School. [2] He attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and played wide receiver for the Vanderbilt Commodores football team from 1988 to 1991. [3] [4] He was recruited and played for head coach Watson Brown, before Gerry DiNardo took over as head coach his senior season. [4]

Gragg graduated from Vanderbilt in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in human development. [1] [5] He went on to earn a master's degree in sports administration from Wayne State University in 1999, and a doctorate (Ed.D) in higher education administration at the University of Arkansas in 2004. [1] [4] He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Career

Early academic career (1993–2006)

In 1993, Gragg was hired as an academic counselor at Vanderbilt University. Soon after he was promoted to director of student life in the athletics department. [4] From 1995 to 1997, he was director of compliance at the University of Missouri. [2] [6] He went on to the University of Michigan, where he was an assistant athletic director from 1997 to 2000. [2] Gragg joined the University of Arkansas athletic department in 2000 as an associate athletic director. In 2003, he was promoted to senior associate athletic director and then deputy director. [2] [7]

Eastern Michigan (2006–13)

On February 21, 2006, Gragg was named the new director of athletics at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. [2] At EMU, Gragg was responsible for an intercollegiate athletic program with 21 teams, 550 student-athletes and 80 staff members. [1] Under his leadership, the Eastern Michigan Eagles totaled 24 Mid-American Conference team championships, 32 MAC Coach of the Year awards, 38 MAC Player of the Year honors and 164 individual MAC champions. [7] Gragg also spearheaded construction of EMU's $3.9 million multipurpose indoor athletic practice facility. [1]

In March 2013, it was announced that Gragg would leave Eastern Michigan University for Tulsa University. [7] His seven years as EMU athletic director was the longest tenure since Gene Smith oversaw the department from 1986 to 1993. [8]

Tulsa (2013–2021)

On March 22, 2013, Gragg was officially introduced as the new vice president and athletic director at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. [1] He was the first Vanderbilt Commodore football alumnus to become athletic director of a major NCAA Division I university. [5]

Following a 10-year tenure in C-USA, the Golden Hurricane were upgraded to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2014, shortly after Gragg's arrival. [9] They won four AAC championships in the 2014 season, [6] including conference titles in men's and women's cross country and men's soccer. [9] In the 2013–14 season, the Tulsa basketball team won 11 games in a row and earned its first NCAA tournament bid since 2003. [10] They made the tournament again in 2016, losing in the first round both times. [11]

Over the course of his career, Gragg has been a presenter and panelist at events including the NCAA Presidential Summit, Future Coaches Academy, Champions for athletic director and Football Coaches, and the NCAA Annual Convention. He is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Black Coaches & Administrators. [1]

Northwestern (2021–present)

On June 4, 2021, Gragg was named the new athletic director at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. [12] Gragg assumed his position as the Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation on July 1, 2021. On June 13, 2024, Gragg was moved to an advisory role. [13]

Book

In October 2015, Gragg's book 40 Days of Direction: Life Lessons From the Talented Ten was published. It relates the personal experiences of Gragg and 10 of his Commodore football teammates as African American student-athletes on the predominantly white campus of Vanderbilt University, and demonstrates how those experiences would shape their personal and professional lives, offering a blueprint for success. [3] [5] [14] [15]

Honors and awards

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletic director</span> Administrator of sports programs in American clubs or institutions

An athletic director is an administrator at many American clubs or institutions, such as colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in athletic programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanderbilt Commodores</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Commodores are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt fields 16 varsity teams, 14 of which compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Vanderbilt's women's lacrosse team plays in the American Athletic Conference. The bowling team plays in Conference USA (C-USA), which absorbed Vanderbilt's former bowling home of the Southland Bowling League after the 2022–23 season. The University of Tennessee Volunteers are Vanderbilt's primary athletic rival, and the only other SEC team in Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Collins (basketball)</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1974)

Christopher Ryan Collins is an American basketball coach who is currently the head men's coach at Northwestern University. Collins previously served as associate head coach of the Duke University men's basketball team and is the son of National Basketball Association (NBA) player, coach, and commentator Doug Collins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Michigan Eagles football</span> Football team of Eastern Michigan University

The Eastern Michigan Eagles are a college football program at Eastern Michigan University. They compete in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Mid-American Conference. Past names include "Michigan State Normal College Normalites", "Michigan State Normal College Hurons", and "Eastern Michigan Hurons".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Haith</span> American basketball coach (born 1965)

Frank James Haith Jr. is an American men's basketball coach, currently serving as an assistant coach for the University of Texas. He previously served as head coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane from 2014 to 2022, and prior to that he served as the head coach at the University of Miami and the University of Missouri, leaving both programs in the midst of NCAA investigations.

Charles Martin Newton was an American collegiate basketball player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head men's basketball coach at Transylvania University from 1956 to 1968, the University of Alabama from 1968 to 1980, and Vanderbilt University from 1981 to 1989, compiling a career college basketball coaching record of 509–375. He was chairman of the NCAA Rules committee from 1979 to 1985 and was the president of USA Basketball from 1992 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Cody</span> American athlete and coach

Joshua Crittenden Cody was an American college athlete, head coach, and athletics director. "Josh" Cody was a native of Tennessee and an alumnus of Vanderbilt University, where he earned 13 letters playing several sports.

Jeff Genyk is an American football coach and former player. He most recently served as the special teams coordinator for Northwestern. Genyk served as the head football coach at Eastern Michigan University from 2004 to 2008, compiling a record of 16–42 in five seasons. He was a television analyst for Atlantic Coast Conference football for ESPN during the 2009 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Michigan Eagles</span> Sports teams for Eastern Michigan University

The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Normalites and the Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. The Eagles compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The only exception is the women's rowing program, which is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. Altogether, the Eagles have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA Division I national championships in five different sports ; moreover, EMU has been NCAA Division I national runner-up twice. In 1940, the men's cross country team finished second to Indiana University at the national meet hosted by Michigan State University.

Roy F. Kramer is a former American high school, college football coach and athletics administrator. Kramer was the head football coach for Central Michigan University from 1967 to 1977, compiling a record of 83–32–2 and winning the 1974 NCAA Division II Football Championship. He then served as the athletic director at Vanderbilt University from 1978 to 1990, and later as the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference from 1990 to 2002, where he created the Bowl Championship Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision</span> Top level of college football in the U.S.

The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, is the highest level of college football in the United States. The FBS consists of the largest schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As of the 2024 season, there are 10 conferences and 134 schools in FBS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators baseball</span> Baseball team of the University of Florida

The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. Florida competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They play their home games in Condron Ballpark on the university's Gainesville, Florida, campus, and are currently led by head coach Kevin O'Sullivan. In the 105-season history of the Florida baseball program, the team has won 16 SEC championships and has appeared in 14 College World Series tournaments. The Gators won their first national championship in 2017.

Kevin R. Haslam is an American university administrator and former college football coach. He is the vice president of advancement and the executive director of the UNA Foundation at the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama, a position he has held since 2019. Haslam also served as the interim athletic director at North Alabama from June to August 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robbie Caldwell</span> American football player and coach (born 1954)

Robbie Caldwell is a retired American football coach, and previously served as the offensive line coach for Clemson University. Caldwell was formerly the head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores football team. He has also been an assistant coach at Furman University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt University. On February 2, 2011 Clemson University named Caldwell offensive line coach to replace the retiring Brad Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Vanderbilt Commodores football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their home games at Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee, which has been Vanderbilt football's home stadium since 1922. Derek Mason coached the Commodores for his second year. They are members of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Commodores finished with a losing record for the second year in a row with an overall record of 4–8 and 2–6 in SEC play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane played their home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and competed in the West Division of American Athletic Conference (AAC). They were led by second-year head coach Philip Montgomery. They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in America Athletic play to finish in second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Miami Beach Bowl where they defeated Central Michigan.

The Vanderbilt Commodores football team represents Vanderbilt University in the sport of American football.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tulsa University chooses Derrick Gragg as Athletic Director," Archived 2017-01-15 at the Wayback Machine KRMG-FM, March 20, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "EMU names Derrick Gragg intercollegiate athletic director," Archived 2016-09-17 at the Wayback Machine Eastern Michigan University, February 21, 2006.
  3. 1 2 Princine Lewis, "Former Vanderbilt football player and author Derrick Gragg to speak Feb. 26," Vanderbilt.edu, February 24, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Jerome Boettcher, "AD finds inspiration in Vanderbilt’s growth – on and off football field," Archived 2016-09-15 at the Wayback Machine The City Paper , July 28, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Vandy Proud: Derrick Gragg, BS '92," Vanderbilt Magazine, May 12, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Matthew Costa, "An Interview With Tulsa Athletic Director, Derrick Gragg," Archived 2016-09-16 at the Wayback Machine Football Matters, November 17, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Kyle Austin, “EMU confirms athletic director Derrick Gragg’s departure to Tulsa University,” Ann Arbor News , March 20, 2013.
  8. ↑ Matt Sussman, "Derrick Gragg did well enough at EMU as athletic director," SB Nation, March 20, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Jesse Keipp, "Lunch with Derrick Gragg: AD talks about 'Elevate'-ing Tulsa sports," University of Tulsa Collegian , February 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ Dana O'Neil, "Which American venue is the toughest place to win?" ESPN, August 3, 2016.
  11. ↑ NCAA basketball tournament History: Tulsa Golden Hurricane, ESPN. Accessed September 5, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Derrick Gragg named Northwestern’s new athletic director" Northwestern Now, June 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ "First to Forde: College Football Best Bets Against the Spread for Week 1".
  14. ↑ Kelly Hines, "TU athletic director Derrick Gragg releases book," Tulsa World , October 28, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Inside Leadership: Derrick Gragg," Archived 2016-09-11 at the Wayback Machine Athletic Management, June/July 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.