SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – University of the Incarnate Word Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Services Dr. David M. Jurenovich will be making a pair of announcements on Tuesday at a 2 p.m. press conference where he will promote Mark Papich from Director of Athletics to Director of Marketing and Development for Student Life & Athletics and he will promote John Williams to the Director of Athletics role.

Papich started at UIW in 1995 as an assistant volleyball coach before taking the head coach role in 1996.  He served as the head coach for seven seasons accumulating a 124-124 record that included a conference and NAIA regional title in 1997 when the team finished 11^th in the nation.  He took over as the Director of Athletics in the summer of 2001 when the program was only two years into NCAA Division II and was a member of the Heartland Conference.  Under his direction, UIW added men's and women's swimming, synchronized swimming, men's and women's fencing and football.  In 2004, he was behind the school mascot change from Crusaders to Cardinals.  He played a major role in the completion of the Ann Barshop Natatorium as well as Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium and Fieldhouse.  Under his leadership, the UIW athletic teams won a total of 46 conference regular season and tournament titles.

In recent years, Papich has led UIW in the move from the Heartland Conference to the Lone Star Conference after football was added.  The LSC was and is one of the premier NCAA Division II conferences in the nation.  Following that move, he has led the athletic department's move from NCAA Division II to Division I over the past 2.5 years.  UIW is currently in the second year of a four year transition into NCAA Division I.

"We are in a time of unparalleled success and growth at the University of the Incarnate Word," said Jurenovich.  "We would not be where we are today without Mark Papich , his commitment and talents.  We are indeed fortunate to continue to capitalize on his abilities and leadership, as we move to further enhance the overall student experience, while achieving excellence at the Division I level.  Both will help further build the UIW Brand.  Mark will work with a range of university offices/personnel and community leaders as we begin major capital campaign initiatives to support the development of facilities designed to support a growing student population and Division I.  No one else on this campus knows more about what athletics and student life need than Mark and that is why we are making the move now."

John Williams joined the UIW staff in the summer of 2014 and has been working extensively on a strategic plan for the athletic department.  Prior to that, Williams was a Director of Championships and Alliances for the NCAA for 10 years.  He was a member of the executive team and he established a strategic plan and created better business practices for the group.  He served as the Director of Division III Championships.  He managed 35 championships for Division I, II and III from start to finish.
Williams also brings coaching and athletic director experience to UIW.  He started as an assistant men's basketball coach at his alma mater Ball State University where he is a member of the BSU Hall of Fame before taking over the head coaching job at Earlham College.  He served as an assistant head men's coach at the University of Wisconsin.  From 1992-96, he was the head men's basketball coach and director of athletics at the University of Saint Francis.  His final coaching position was as head coach at Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne (IPFW).

One of the strengths that Williams brings with him is his extensive experience in managing staff through cultural changes due to a change in leadership.  While he was with the NCAA he managed a staff of 15 associate and assistant directors, coordinators and interns.  For the two years before he worked with championships at the NCAA he was the Professional Development Coordinator where he managed the Diversity and Inclusion and Post Graduate programs for the national office.

"We have been able to attract a number of high quality people from organizations like the World Champion San Antonio Spurs, Columbia University, University of Alabama-Birmingham, UC-Riverside and now the NCAA," said Jurenovich.  "John Williams comes to UIW with a depth and breadth of experience in leadership at the Division I level.  John came to UIW because he wanted the opportunity to join a growing and vibrant, faith based community and to take what Mark has laid as a foundation, and move us forward into the next level in Division I... excellence!  We are indeed blessed to have attracted a person of his character, talents and ability to lead the Cardinals program."

"Thanks to the national exposure received with our being on ESPN's College Game Day last fall, and the amazing coverage after big wins against the likes of Princeton and especially Nebraska, the national sports community & media are all asking, 'What's The Word?' and our response is, 'The University of the Incarnate Word!'" said Jurenovich.   

Papich and Williams will each begin their new roles at the university immediately. 
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