{"id":19262,"date":"2026-02-06T13:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T18:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=19262"},"modified":"2026-03-02T10:46:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T15:46:52","slug":"cacc-names-wilmington-universitys-dr-stefanie-whitby-2025-26-athletics-director-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/06\/cacc-names-wilmington-universitys-dr-stefanie-whitby-2025-26-athletics-director-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"CACC Names Wilmington University\u2019s Dr. Stefanie Whitby 2025-26 Athletics Director of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column19262_5dd6fc-43\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p><strong>Dr. Stefanie Whitby<\/strong> is the first to tell you she did not earn this designation alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since she became Wilmington University\u2019s athletics director in February 2018, the Wildcats have strengthened a program defined by hard work, shared standards, and people who care about students as much as scoreboards. WilmU teams have earned 23 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championships, and the program has received six men\u2019s Restaino Cup honors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That sustained progress is why the CACC has named Dr. Whitby its 2025-26 Athletics Director of the Year, an honor decided by a vote of the conference\u2019s Directors Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under Dr. Whitby\u2019s leadership, the 2024-25 academic year was one of the strongest in program history. Wilmington University (WilmU) posted its best finish in the NCAA Division II Learfield Directors\u2019 Cup standings (74th) and recorded a 3.23 grade-point average. The Wildcats won five CACC championships, added two regular-season titles, advanced eight teams and one individual to NCAA championship events, and produced eight All-Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CACC Commissioner <strong>Dan Mara<\/strong> pointed to that combination of excellence and purpose in a press release announcing the Athletics Director of the Year title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDr. Whitby is a talented leader and administrator,\u201d Mara said. \u201cSince assuming leadership of the WilmU athletics department, she has guided a strong era for the Wildcats, with a focus on student-athlete welfare and academic achievement while producing championship teams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the WilmU community, Dr. Whitby is known for keeping the focus where it belongs: on student-athletes and the people who support them. When she talks about any recognition, she shares the spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201c[Dr. Whitby] has guided a strong era for the Wildcats, with a focus on student-athlete welfare and academic achievement while producing championship teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 <em>CACC Commissioner Dan Mara<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis recognition reflects the work of our team,\u201d Dr. Whitby says. \u201cOur coaches are exceptional, and our staff brings the same level of care and professionalism every day. They make all of us better, and I\u2019m grateful to represent them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That same care shows up in details that rarely make headlines. During Dr. Whitby\u2019s tenure, Wildcat student-athletes have recorded a departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester. Dr. Whitby has overseen WilmU\u2019s hosting of 10 NCAA regional or super-regional championships. It\u2019s the kind of behind-the-scenes work that takes planning, patience, and steady follow-through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer<strong> Dr. Tina Barksdale<\/strong> says Dr. Whitby\u2019s leadership shows up across the program, in the expectations she sets and the support and guidance student-athletes receive on and off the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m incredibly proud to see Dr. Whitby recognized as the CACC Athletics Director of the Year,\u201d says Dr. Barksdale. \u201cThis honor reflects her leadership, clear vision, and deep commitment to our student-athletes. She leads with passion and heart, and she keeps their support and well-being at the center of everything we do, on the field and beyond. Her impact is felt across our entire Athletics program, and this recognition is truly well deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Whitby also serves on the NCAA Division II Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Tennis Selection Committees and is the CACC supervisor for men\u2019s and women\u2019s track and field. In 2025, she was named one of Delaware\u2019s Most Influential People in Sports by The News Journal and Delaware Online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Whitby\u2019s approach to athletics leadership is grounded in her own experience as a student-athlete.\u00a0She earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in Psychology from Villanova University, where she was an All-Big East performer in indoor track and field. Dr. Whitby later earned an M.Ed. in Education Counseling from Temple University and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/organizational-learning-doctorate.aspx\">Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership<\/a> from WilmU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This latest recognition comes from years of consistent work. It\u2019s rooted in wins, academic success, and a student-centered culture. Dr. Whitby would be the first to point out that it takes a whole team to sustain that kind of standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And at WilmU, that\u2019s the point.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2014 Maria Hess<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Stefanie Whitby is the first to tell you she did not earn this designation alone. Since she became Wilmington University\u2019s athletics director in February&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":19263,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[143],"tags":[98,1076,14,15],"class_list":["post-19262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-athletics","tag-athletics-director-of-the-year","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":143,"label":"SPORTS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":98,"label":"Athletics"},{"value":1076,"label":"Athletics Director of the Year"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dr-Stefanie-Whitby-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rachel Marchione","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rachel\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":143,"name":"SPORTS","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":700,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":143,"category_count":36,"category_description":"","cat_name":"SPORTS","category_nicename":"sports","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":98,"name":"Athletics","slug":"athletics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":655,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":10,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1076,"name":"Athletics Director of the Year","slug":"athletics-director-of-the-year","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1633,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":291,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19262"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19264,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19262\/revisions\/19264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}