Former Pitt basketball player Charles Small named athletic director at Valparaiso
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Charles Small, who rose through the ranks of sports administration at Pitt after four seasons on the basketball team from 2003-06, has been named athletic director at Valparaiso, University President José D. Padilla, J.D., announced Thursday.
Small began his professional career in 2006 as a graduate assistant for Student Life and Compliance at Pitt, moving on to assistant director of Life Skills (2007-10) and academic counselor for football and women’s track and field (2010-13).
He received a bachelor’s degree in social work and master’s of social work from Pitt before earning a doctor of education — also from Pitt — in 2013.
Small, who will assume his role July 1, will be Valparaiso’s first Black athletic director.
He comes to Valparaiso after spending the past four years on the senior staff of Iowa State’s athletic department.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Charles Small to Valparaiso University,” Padilla said in a statement. “He will be a great asset to Valpo Athletics programs, our student-athletes and the larger Valpo community.
“His experience in Division I basketball and at the many levels of administration in collegiate athletic programs makes him a perfect fit for the athletic director position.
“Charles is a man of faith who brings a great deal of knowledge and energy to Valpo Athletics.”
“I am honored to be named Director of Athletics at Valparaiso University,” Small said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to join President Padilla’s leadership team and work for a proven leader with a longstanding career in higher education and a leader with a history of remarkable impact in a range of professional settings. Valparaiso University’s legacy of preparing students to lead and serve in both church and society aligns with my core values.”
Small spent the past four years as Iowa State’s senior associate athletic director for student services where he has served the department in a variety of roles.
He is the lead administrator for sports medicine, compliance, strength and conditioning, former student-athlete relations and academic support services for student-athletes.
He also was the administrator for the Cyclones’ men’s basketball and wrestling programs. During his time at Iowa State, he created a student-athlete and letterwinner engagement unit and a position for a mental health and educational enrichment coordinator.
Plus, he was Iowa State’s interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion for the fall 2021 semester.
Small previously worked at Arkansas (2014-18) where he was the department’s associate athletic director for academic services and director of student-athlete development.
He also served the University of New Orleans as assistant athletic director for student-athlete enrichment in 2013 and 2014.