FRANKFORT (August 10, 2011) – Kentucky State University’s (KSU) Director of Athletics, Dr. Denisha L. Hendricks, has announced the hiring of Lydia Harsley as the new Assistant Director of Athletics for Internal Relations and Senior Woman Administrator. As the newest member to the Thorobred athletics staff, Harsley will serve as the athletic academic coordinator, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Student-Athlete Affairs (SAA, formerly CHAMPS/Life Skills) advisor.
Prior to her arrival at KSU, Harsley was the athletic academic coordinator and cheerleading advisor for Cheyney University (PA). During her time at CU, Harsley was the liaison between athletics and residence life, student activities, dining, career and health services. She was a member of CU’s Student Affairs Council and the athletics senior staff. Over the course of two years, Harsley raised thousands of dollars for student training, materials and funding for the academic program at CU. She was also the advisor for CU’s first two Academic All-American and a McClendon Scholar, while organizing CU’s first revenue-generating volleyball tournament and hosting the first cheerleading competition in CU history.
Preceding her time at CU, Harsley worked at Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, VA where she served as Compliance Director, SAAC Advisor and NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator. She was responsible for monitoring student-athlete progress while managing NCAA, CIAA and institutional compliance. In addition, Harsley educated coaches, boosters and student-athletes on NCAA regulations, oversaw a scholarship budget of over one million dollars and prepared grant-in-aid contracts for all student-athletes. Harsley also worked for Richmond Sports Backers, the Richmond Ballerz Event Operation Staff and Virginia State University’s Sports Information Office.
Harsley holds membership with the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) and is a graduate of the NACWAA/HERS Institute (2007) and the Division II Leadership Academy (2009)
A native of Woodbridge, VA, Harsley earned a Bachelor and Master of Science in Sports Management from Virginia State University.
