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With a proven track record of strong leadership, integrity, sound academic values and athletics achievement, Thomas Boeh enters his 27th year of athletics administration, 14th year as an NCAA Division I-A Director of Athletics and fourth year at Fresno State.
In July of 2005 Boeh was charged to stabilize, reform and revitalize the athletics program at Fresno State. As a result of this charge, the Department of Athletics has been completely restructured with a new senior administrative team. Special emphasis has been placed upon a consistent and value-based approach to decision-making, as well as clearly delineating areas of responsibilities with built-in accountability. Considerable attention has been directed towards creating a progressive student-athlete environment and strict adherence to well-defined NCAA compliance protocols and standards.
New polices have been developed regarding student-athletes recruitment, oversight and welfare. The Student-Athlete Code of Conduct and Substance Abuse Educational and Testing Program have been reviewed and strengthened, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council has been re-energized. Further, departmental and institutional protocols relative to admissions, financial aid and eligibility have all been restructured in conjunction with the Faculty Athletics Representative and other campus leaders. Fresno State's student-athletes have benefited significantly from these measures and, in conjunction with enhanced support services, they have fostered a better-quality experience that is reflected in improved Academic Progress Rates, fewer Code of Conduct violations and more extensive community service activity. Additionally, all athletics fundraising activities have been consolidated within the new Bulldog Foundation, and for the first time in several years the Department of Athletics completed fiscal years with a fund balance.
Fresno State Athletics has been working closely with a nationally renowned consultant, a broad-based President-appointed ad hoc committee, and the Office of Civil Rights to remedy all past gender equity issues and create at Fresno State a model Division I-A athletics program relative to Title IX compliance. One component of this effort is the addition of two new women's sports; Lacrosse and Swimming & Diving. Both sports will begin competition in the 2008-09 academic year. All athletics facilities have been evaluated and a 10-year master plan has been developed in conjunction with the University Planning Office and equity consultant. Several projects have been completed to date.
Fresno State's competitive level continues to rank among the leaders in the Western Athletic Conference and several teams have achieved national rankings. Since 2005, WAC championships and advancement to NCAA Championship competition has been achieved in the sports of women's basketball, track & field, women's soccer, baseball, women's golf, softball and women's tennis, with the latter three enjoying a Top-20 national ranking, and baseball capturing the 2008 National Championship. Additionally, Fresno State student-athletes have advanced to post-season competition in the sports of football, men's basketball and equestrian. The success of Bulldog student-athletes throughout the 2007-08 academic year culminated in Fresno State's first-ever Western Athletics Conference Commissioner's Cup.
"Thomas has brought the combination of experience, performance and a commitment to high academic standards that Fresno State needs to compete at a national level," said Fresno State President Dr. John D. Welty. "Under his leadership a New Era in Bulldog Athletics has been created and the program has a new direction and focus, with a strong commitment to the student-athlete development and welfare."
"I am grateful for having the benefit of working with a tremendous staff and the continued support of Dr. Welty, the Cabinet and the university community," Boeh said. "I remain extremely enthused by the staggering potential of Fresno State.
"We have faced and worked through significant challenges in our first three years, but will continue to initiate progressive changes, make difficult decisions when necessary, and serve student-athletes in the manner that will build upon the great traditions of Bulldog Athletics."
Prior to his arrival in Fresno in July of 2005, Boeh spent the previous 10 years as the Director of Athletics at Ohio University, where he led the program to unprecedented levels in numerous categories and earning numerous conference championships.
Among his notable accomplishments include serving a term as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) representative to the NCAA Management Council, the NCAA's most prestigious governing body for athletics administrators. Boeh also served as the chair of the MAC Athletics Directors' Group and member of the MAC Executive Council.
In 2001, The Sporting News ranked Ohio's department 32nd among the 115 NCAA I-A institutions, the highest ranking of any non-BCS program. The ranking included evaluations for competitive success, fan support, integrity and equity. Ohio earned an "A" rating in graduation rates and NCAA compliance and posted an eight-year high graduation rate of 73 percent in 2004.
Under Boeh's leadership, Ohio was extremely aggressive in its efforts to achieve gender equity and compliance with Title IX. Three women's sports programs were initiated during Boeh's tenure, and in 2004 The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Ohio ranked second nationally among all NCAA I-A institutions relative to the equity of men's and women's sport program expenditures.
Additionally, numerous women's facilities were constructed; sports budgets were restructured and decision-making procedures were reorganized to establish what Boeh refers to as an "authentic gender-neutral environment." Annual fundraising totals rose more than 500 percent since 1995. Ohio Athletics concluded the University's Bicentennial Capital Campaign by exceeding its $10 million departmental goal.
Some of the more visible changes on the Ohio campus during Boeh's tenure were the facilities for student-athlete support services, practice and competition. By 2005, 44 of Ohio's athletics facilities had undergone major renovation and are now recognized as being among the best and most efficient in the Midwest.
Prior to his tenure at Ohio, Boeh served as Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs at Northwestern University, overseeing areas such as development, marketing, ticket operations, sports publications, media services, game management and broadcast properties. Boeh also led the popular "Expect Victory" campaign for Northwestern's first multimedia marketing plan.
Preceding Northwestern, Boeh served the University of Maine as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Administration and Development. He also spent time in a variety of roles with the Big Ten Television Network, The University of Illinois, and his alma mater, Loras College of Iowa.
The 49-year-old Chicago-area native received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education with a minor in History at Loras in 1981, and a Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1988.
