< PreviousThe University of Lou- isville boasts some of the nation’s best and brightest minds amid a friendly, park-like setting in the heart of Kentucky’s largest city. UofL serves as an engine that powers Metro Louisville and the com- monwealth. Our more than 22,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and 140,000 alumni con- tribute daily to ideas and innovations that make lives better. UofL has been named a national top producer of Fulbright awards, with more than 130 UofL students and alumni earning this international studies award since 2003. This total is greater than all of Kentucky’s other public universities combined and is on par with several Ivy League universities. Young people who choose UofL enjoy a wide range of study options – more than 200 fields in 12 schools and colleges. The city also serves as a class- room for UofL students, who benefit from intern- ships and partnerships with Fortune 500 companies such as Kindred Healthcare, Ford, Haier (formerly General Electric), Humana, Yum! Brands and others, as well as Metropolitan College, a unique work- study program with UPS. UofL students reside in an urban oasis where the improvements never stop. The latest addition is the Belknap Academic Building, which houses four stories of modern instructional space and a student success cen- ter. An expanded Student Activities Center features enhanced dining options, study spaces and meeting facilities. Ekstrom Library renovations included the addition of the Teaching Innovation Learning Lab, where instructors can experiment with new technol- ogy and equipment to enhance learning opportuni- ties for students. Other noteworthy facilities include one of the nation’s top 10 academic clean rooms, where work in bioengineering, nanotechnology and other high- 108 University of Louisville n gocards.com University of Louisville Louisville Basketballdemand fields takes place. Apartment-style housing and a sparkling student recreation center provide first-class places to live and play on campus. UofL is a leader in research with faculty who have conducted the world’s first successful implan- tation of an artificial heart and the nation’s first suc- cessful hand transplant. Our faculty currently lead the world’s first FDA-approved clinical trial using adult cardiac stem cells to treat heart disease and pioneered the use of locomotion training to help paralyzed patients walk again. Innovation runs rampant across UofL, and corpo- rate partners are joining with the university to help bridge the tech gap. The university recently partnered with Microsoft to explore the future of artificial intelli- gence and provide digital literacy training. Additionally, the university is working with IBM to establish an IBM Skills Academy in the newly-created Center for Digital Transformation on Belknap Campus. The academy will provide curriculum and educational tools concen- trated on eight fast-growing technology areas: artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, cybersecurity, cloud computing, internet of things, quantum com- puting, data science and design thinking. In recent years UofL has emerged as a hub for advanced manufacturing. Through partnerships with industry leaders such as General Electric, faculty and students are able to interact with makers from around the world, whether they are present physi- cally or connected virtually. In addition, UofL has installed maker spaces in the West End School and Nativity Academy — both located in lower income areas of Louisville — to allow at-risk students to learn the latest 3-D printing techniques and envision a whole new world of opportunity. UofL recently expanded its healthcare enterprise by acquiring several Louisville-area health assets including UofL Health – Jewish Hospital, UofL Health – Frazier Rehab Institute, three additional regional hospitals, four regional medical centers and numerous physician groups. The expanded UofL Health enterprise ensures a continuation of high-quality medical care to patients throughout our community and beyond. UofL stands out for its efforts to serve the needs of its community. One of only 69 univer- sities in the United States to achieve Carnegie Foundation Research 1 and Community Engaged University status, UofL is ranked among the nation’s best universities for African American and LGBTQ+ students. UofL’s Signature Partnership, a project with community organizations and busi- nesses to improve the social, cultural, educational, health care and economic development services in a historically underserved area of Louisville, is considered a national model for community engagement. UofL remains committed to ensuring a nurturing and challenging intellectual climate that demon- strates a genuine understanding of how diversity enriches a vibrant metropolitan research university. Under the leadership of President Neeli Bendapudi, the university celebrates diversity, fosters equity, and strives for inclusion, making UofL a great place to learn, a great place to work and a great place in which to invest. gocards.com n University of Louisville 109 University of Louisville Louisville BasketballThe Louisville area owes its existence to the Falls of the Ohio, the only place where the 981-mile Ohio River flows over bedrock. The falls were really a rapids where the river dropped about 27 feet in three miles, usually blocking passage by boat. Early explorers recognized the strategic impor- tance of the Falls. George Rogers Clark established the first settlement there in 1778, to use as a base of his invasion of British territory in Southern Illinois and Indiana. Two years later that settlement became Louisville -- named for King Louis XVI of France, who was supporting the American Revolution. Louisville quickly became a vital transportation center for the young nation. Ports were establish above and below the Falls. Passengers and freight moved overland around the rapids. Trails and roads connected the ports to inland settlements in Ken- tucky and Indiana. The steamboat brought prosper- ity and growth to the area; by 1850, Louisville was the 10th-largest city in the nation. In the decades that followed, railroads greatly improved connections with cities throughout the nation, and Louisville became known as the “Gate- way to the South.” Businesses and industries were attracted by the strong and convenient transportation network and Louisville became an industrial center. In recent years, the economy of the Louisville area has shifted from a heavy reliance on industry to an increasing emphasis on services, including earn- ing a worldwide reputation as a transportation and distribution center. Once again, location is a key fac- tor. Louisville is located near the center of the east- ern half of the contiguous 48 states, with nearly half of the nation’s consumer markets within a 500-mile radius. The climate is mild enough that Louisville’s airport is rarely closed because of weather. Climate, location and a good transportation sys- tem helped convince United Parcel Service to estab- lish its national hub in Louisville in the early 1980s. UPS, in turn, is attracting businesses that depend on fast and efficient transportation of their goods to other parts of the nation and throughout the world. The Kentucky Center for the Arts is one of the nation’s premier performing arts facilities, housing three spacious theatres. Sports, including UofL athletics, are an important facet of life in the Louisville area. Churchill Downs has hosted three Breeders’ Cups and continues its tradi- tional Run For The Roses -- the Kentucky Derby -- the first Saturday each May. The 1996, 2000 and 2014 PGA Championships were staged at Valhalla Golf Course in eastern Jefferson County, which was also the site of the 2008 Ryder Cup international competi- tion. The Louisville Bats, the triple-A baseball team of the Cincinnati Reds, have drawn over 1 million fans to games in a single season with Slugger Field stationed on the downtown riverfront. Over 140 public parks, 20 public golf courses and 226 public tennis courts also provide outdoor entertainment. Yet even though Louisville has changed through the years, it still has the flavor and gentleness of a Southern town. The Belle of Louisville steamboat still paddles its way up and down the Ohio River daily, mint juleps are still served under an old oak tree during the hot and muggy summers and fishing in the many lakes and rivers of Louisville and sur- rounding counties is still a favorite pastime. Another favorite in Louisville is trying to figure out the correct pronunciation of the city. So if you’re a tourist, don’t say Louie-ville or Lewis-ville. Natives claim it’s Lou-a-vuhl. Either way, Louisville is still the same happy place. "The Ville" has been labeled as the Best College Sports Town in America Cardinal fans participate in a rally at Fourth Street Live!, a downtown entertainment area. 110 University of Louisville n gocards.com City of Louisville Louisville BasketballLouisville Quick Facts Louisville, Kentucky n Metropolitan area size: 2,179 square miles (includes eight neighboring counties). n Population: approximately 1.27 million, the nation’s 16th-largest urban area in population. n Median Age: 35.8 n Weather: average annual rainfall is 44 inches; average summer/fall temperature is 84 degrees; winter/spring temp. is 64. n Louisville ranks among the top 50 convention cities in the United States. Louisville hosts more than 24 million visits annually for an estimated economic impact of $1.6 billion. n Louisville is home to legendary Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, known as “the greatest two minutes in sports.” n The Jefferson County Public School System is the nation’s 29th largest public school system, with over 98,000 students. n Louisville’s top local manufacturers: Ford Motor Company, General Electric Company, Publishers Printing Company, Brown-Forman Corp. n Kentucky Harvest, which collects surplus food to feed the homeless and needy, started in Louisville and spawned the national USA Harvest. n The area’s largest private employer is UPS, the worldwide shipping business which uses Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport as a hub. Louisville’s airport ranks third in the U.S. – and sixth in the world – in tons of air freight handled. n Hillerich & Bradsby’s Louisville Slugger baseball bats are a hit at ballparks. n Listed in “Best Small Cities in the U.S.” by National Geographic (2018). n A “Top 15 City for Affordable Living” by Forbes (2018). n “Most Livable City in America” (large city category) by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (2012). n One of the “Top Cities to Visit in 2019” by TripAdvisor (2019). n Among the Top 10 “Best Cities For Families” by Parenting Magazine (2011). n Third among “Top 30 City for Young Entrepreneurs” by Livability.com (2012). n One of the Top 10 Cities for Obtaining a Job by USA Today (2017). n One of the Top 10 Coolest U.S. Citites by Forbes (2018). n Top 10 “Bike Friendly City” by USA Today. n Among top cities for college graduates (12th) by SmartAsset (2020). n Among 15 best cities in the world for food, according to The Culture Trip (2016). Churchill Downs Muhammad Ali Center Louisville Slugger Museum gocards.com n University of Louisville 111 City of Louisville Louisville BasketballDr. Neeli Bendapudi President Neeli Bendapudi is the 18th President of the University of Louisville. Selected by the UofL Board of Trustees in April 2018, Bendapudi came to Louisville from the University of Kansas where she served as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. Since becoming President, Bendapudi has worked toward making the university a great place for students to learn, a great place for faculty and staff to work, and a great place for alumni and the community to invest. Under her leadership, the university will celebrate diversity, foster equity and strive for inclusion. She earned her PhD in marketing from the University of Kansas and has teaching experience at Texas A&M University and The Ohio State University. Bendapudi returned to KU in 2011 to become the School of Business dean and H.D. Price Professor of Business. During her career, she has taught at the undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA and PhD levels and received numerous college, university and national teaching awards. Bendapudi specializes in the study of consumer behavior in service contexts. Her research deals with customers’ willingness and ability to maintain long- term relationships with firms and with the brands and employees that represent them. Her research has been published in the Journal of Academic Medicine, Harvard Business Review, Journal of Marketing (where she also served on the editorial board), Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Retailing, Journal of Service Research and in the pro- ceedings of various national and international con- ferences. Her work has been featured by popular media outlets including The New York Times, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, WebMD and Fox News Network. Previously, she served as chief customer officer of the Huntington National Bank and was actively involved in business outreach through consulting and executive education programs. A highly sought-after keynote speaker, she has addressed national and international audiences for many companies, trade groups and organizations. Bendapudi sits on the Board of Directors of publicly held company Lancaster Colony Corpora- tion and has sat on several non-profit organiza- tion boards, including MRIGlobal, an independent research institute. She is a former Leadership Foun- dation Fellow of the International Women’s Forum, one of a select group of women selected worldwide for this prestigious honor. She is married to Venkat Bendapudi. Their daughter, Sirisha, is married to Kyle Ladd. 112 University of Louisville n gocards.com University Administration Louisville BasketballKrista Wallace-Boaz Faculty Athletics Representative Krista Wallace-Boaz, associate dean and professor of piano and pedagogy in the School of Music, was appointed as UofL’s Fac- ulty Athletics Representative effec- tive July 1, 2020. Appointed by the university president, the FAR is a faculty mem- ber with administrative function who does not hold an administra- tive or coaching position in the athletics department. In this role, Wallace-Boaz provides oversight and guidance in the administration of athletics programs, and serves as the university’s liaison between fac- ulty, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA. Wallace-Boaz, who currently serves as the chair of the Faculty Senate, has served in numerous liaison, oversight and governance roles including vice chair of the UofL Athletics Association (ULAA) Board of Directors. She plays a leading role in the areas of academic integrity, gover- nance and commitment to rules compliance, promotion of insti- tutional control of athletics, com- mitment to diversity and equity, including student-athlete welfare and well-being, and facilitation of the integration of the academic and athletic components of the university community. Wallace-Boaz teaches class piano, piano ped- agogy, keyboard literature classes and applied piano. She has served as chair of the UofL Faculty Senate (2018-2020), ex-officio on the UofL Foundation Board of Directors, and Faculty Trustee on the UofL Board of Trustees. From 2016-2018 she served as Vice-Chair of the ULAA Board of Directors, and was a member of the Committee on Academic Performance. A current ACC Fellow, Wallace-Boaz completed the ACC Academic Leaders Network program in Spring of 2020. A recipient of the UofL Distinguished Faculty Award for Service, Wallace-Boaz holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from UofL, a Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Peda- gogy from Northwestern University, and a Doctor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University. Wallace-Boaz also holds three certificates from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conser- vatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. She has appeared in concerts across the United States as well as England, Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Russia and Scotland. Wallace-Boaz currently serves as the Director of Operations for the Chamber Music Society of Louisville, is the Southern Division Composition Coordinator for MTNA Com- petitions, and the State Coordinator for the MTNA Composition Competition. More about the University of Louisville n The Thinker: UofL’s most famous landmark is a large, original bronze casting of Rodin’s “The Thinker” in front of Grawemeyer Hall. The statue, given to the city of Louisville to recognize its name- sake, French monarch Louis XVI, has been in place at UofL since 1949. In 2012, the sculpture was completely refinished. n Diverse Campus: With a student body of more than 22,600 and faculty and staff of around 7,000, UofL’s 12 academic schools and colleges offer over 200 undergraduate, graduate and profes- sional degrees and credentials. Its students hail from 117 counties across Kentucky, 54 U.S. states and territories, and more than 90 countries. UofL offers its students 458 recognized student organizations, 34 national Greek letter fraternities and sororities, and 23 sports clubs. n Home for Many Fulbright Scholars: Since 2003, 144 UofL students have won prestigious Fulbright awards, more than all of Kentucky’s other public universities combined and on par with sev- eral Ivy League universities. The university had 11 scholars in 2020. n FirstBuild Microfactory: The University of Louisville is home to the unique FirstBuild micro- factory, a partnership among the university, GE Appliances, and Arizona-based Local Motors. The 35,000-square-foot facility is a space where home appliances are designed, built, and sold, using an online co-creation community and micro-manufac- turing model. n $1.5 Billion Investment: UofL’s drive to become a premier metropolitan research univer- sity is highlighted by its $1.5 billion investment in campus and facility developments since 2001. The Micro/Nano Technology Service Center (one of the nation’s largest “clean rooms” to develop leading-edge technology) and a library system ranked among the top 100 for research capabilities in North America are two examples of the univer- sity’s cutting-edge facilities designed to enhance the academic experience. n Renowned Research Center: UofL’s Alcohol Research Center is the only NIH-designated center researching the interactive role of nutrition and alco- hol to discover the deleterious, as well as beneficial, effects of alcohol on the human body. n New Rec Center: The University recently opened a 128,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center featuring an exercise and weight facility, six basketball courts, a multi-activity court, a jogging track, aerobics studios, fitness labs, a gaming area and classrooms. gocards.com n University of Louisville 113 University Administration Louisville Basketball Athletic Association Board of Directors Dawn Heinecken Dennis Heishman Eric Berson Steve Jones Sharon Moore Shannon Rickett Tom Meeker Sam Rechter James Rogers Shelley Santry Karen Turner Ronald L. Wright Michael Voor Krista Wallace-Boaz Diane Medley James M. Rogers Scott Brinkman Raymond Burse John Smith Sandra Frazier Krista Wallace-Boaz Mary R. Nixon Larry Benz Tom Andrews Neeli Bendapudi Beth Boehm Sheldon Bond Dan Durbin Andrew Grubb Ralph Fitzpatrick Ryan Bridgeman Gerry Bradley Boards listed are as of Aug. 15, 2020 Diane L. Porter Sabrina Collins John E. Chilton Alfonso Cornish Randall Bufford Ben Barberie Sabrina Collins 114 University of Louisville n gocards.com UofL Board of Trustees Louisville BasketballSantiago Aguilera Swim & Dive Glenn Albanese Baseball Nick Albiero Swim & Dive Elijah Amo Soccer Bailey Beery Track & Field Allison Bitting Field Hockey Sarah Blalock Lacrosse Ryan Chalifoux Football Evan Conley Football Jessica De Filippo Soccer Shekinah Phillips Cheer Aidan Robbins Football Maddy Robinson Ladybirds Mykasa Robinson Basketball Piper Roe Volleyball Hana Ryskova Golf Bradley Sample Soccer Katie Schorr Swim & Dive Hannah Sears Ladybirds Makenli Forrest Track & Field Tori Dilfer Volleyball Celene Funke Softball Abby Hay Swim & Dive Aidan Igiehon Basketball Trevor Johnson Golf Kameron Jones Track & Field Aiko Jones Volleyball Emilia Kaczmarczyk Field Hockey Gabby Kouzelos Soccer Megan Mangines Lacrosse Jenna Servi Softball Haylie Shipley Cheer Allen Smith Football Kianna Smith Basketball Delaney Snyder Soccer Emmanual Sowders Football Cameron Stephen Track & Field McKenzie Sweeney Rowing Nicholas Tenuta Golf Jamie Vasilou Volleyball Mairead Martin Golf Ainsley Mattingly Rowing Alex McNicholas Lacrosse Maddie Meister Rowing Sophie Middendorf Swim & Dive Alyssa Moreland Cheer Maddy Newman Softball Josh Nickelberry Basketball Taylar Nolden Cheer Jackson Perkins Baseball Rhea Verma Tennis Madison Walsh Field Hockey Addie Wanner Track & Field Briana Washington Track & Field Aliyah Welter Track & Field Alex Wesbrooks Tennis Kyle Worrell Swim & Dive gocards.com n University of Louisville 115 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Louisville BasketballVince Tyra Vice President/ Director of Athletics Vincent Tyra, a Louisville native with strong busi- ness credentials, was named as the University of Louisville’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Ath- letics and Director of Athletics on March 26, 2018. He had previ- ously served in an interim role leading Cardinal Athletics for six months prior to his appointment in that role on Oct. 3, 2017. Tyra (pronounced TIE-ray) has been highly active since assuming his position, using his business acu- men, passion for Cardinal Athletics and background in athletics to advance UofL onward. He has provided leadership while continuing to move the Cardinals forward in all sports, building upon the positive legacy of previous athletics successes, and taking the time to personally reach out to the UofL fan base and donors on multiple fronts through improved customer service. Tyra has instilled strong principles with established core beliefs and goals to drive the essence of the Cardinals’ athletics program moving forward. He has taken steps to stabilize the future of the Cardinals by extending the contracts for key UofL coaches and adding new ones while making moves to efficiently restructure the administrative and support staff, all with an emphasis on enhancing the student-athlete experience for the Cardinals. Among those astute head coaching hires are men’s basketball’s Chris Mack and football’s Scott Satterfield, both of whom have had early success and quickly become fan favorites. Tyra’s leadership during the pandemic has been apparent, moving quickly in the spring to plan for budgetary adjustments and developing protocols to get Cardinal student-athletes back on campus and into competition, well ahead of most athletic departments. He has monitored major capital projects, including a Cardinal Stadium expansion completed in August 2018, as well as constructing and outfitting a broad- cast center on campus in advance of the launch of the ACC Network in August 2019. A comprehensive study will help guide the timetable for upcoming future enhancements. Funding has been jumpstarted with a flurry of substantial benevolent gifts from individu- als and companies who believe in and align with the current Cardinals’ leadership and values. During Tyra’s first three years, Louisville has ranked among the top 35 schools in the nation in the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup national all-sports standings, making it seven straight seasons the Cardinals have ranked among the nation’s top 35. UofL was poised for one of their top seasons in the standings at No. 8 nationally in Fall 2019 before the winter and spring championships were cancelled due to COVID-19. Cardinal athletic teams have achieved impressive academic results, posted a collec- tive 3.507 GPA during the most recent 2020 Spring semester. Five UofL athletic teams -- men’s and women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf and volleyball – received public rec- ognition awards for ranking in the top 10 percent in the most recent Academic Progress Rate. The Cardinals have been generous with their service time as UofL won 2019-20 NCAA Division I Team Works Award Competition for outstanding community service. UofL has ranked among the top five nationally in all six years of the competition, including winning it a second time earlier. Tyra’s efforts have strengthened UofL’s commit- ment to diversity, equity and inclusion, through the departmental goals and values statements and the creation of the Cardinals S.O.A.R. (Strategically Organiz- ing Against Racism) Committee. The committee works to provide educational opportunities and resources to enhance knowledge and empower action; create brave and safe spaces to build and sustain a supportive anti-racist community; and implement initiatives to assist and serve underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. Prior to his appointment at UofL, Tyra served as an operating partner since 2007 for Southfield Capital, a Greenwich, Conn. based private equity firm that invests in lower middle market companies. In his role there, Tyra served as chairman of the board of numerous invest- ments to include Hallcon Corp, RCR International, Total Fleet Solutions, Dealer Financial Services, and BioPharm Communications. Tyra most recently served as chair- man of the board and interim Chief Executive Officer of Elite Medical, a company based in Clearwater, Fla. Tyra was a corporate advisor from 2008-2017 for ISCO Industries, a privately held piping supply company based in Louisville, Ky. He also formerly served as the president of Retail and Activewear for Fruit of the Loom in Bowling Green, Ky. Tyra has served as a member of the University of Louisville Foundation Board of Directors and chaired the organization’s Finance Committee. He joined the board in February 2017, but stepped down from the position after his appointment with Cardinal Athletics. He has served on the board of Industrial Services of America, a Louisville-based scrap metal recycling company. A former standout athlete himself, Tyra graduated from Trinity High School in Louisville in 1984 as the state’s top baseball prospect and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. He was a four-year baseball letterman (1985-88) and two-time team captain at the University of Kentucky, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health administration in 1989. He started 37 career games as a pitcher for Kentucky, tied for 14th at UK. A long-time supporter of UofL Athletics, his father Charlie Tyra was a consensus All-America at UofL, led the Cardinals to the 1956 National Invitation Tourna- ment Championship and is one of four players with his jersey number (No. 8) retired at UofL, along with Wes Unseld, Darrell Griffith and Pervis Ellison. Tyra and his wife Lori have five children: Sydney, Audrey, Olivia, Spencer and Cooper. The Tyra Family: (from left) Cooper, Olivia, Lori, Vince, Audrey, Sydney and Spencer. Vince Tyra honored former Cardinal player and assistant coach Wade Houston in 2019 with Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum. 116 University of Louisville n gocards.com Athletics Administration Louisville BasketballJosh Heird Deputy Athletic Director Josh Heird, who has over 12 years of experience in athletics administration at the University of Louisville and most recently Villanova University, was named Deputy Athletic Director in April 2019. In his current role at UofL, Heird is the sport admin- istrator for baseball, men’s basketball, football, and men’s and women’s golf, as well as providing admin- istrative oversight for championships, facilities/events, capital projects and equipment operations. Heird served as Senior Associate Athletics Director/ Chief Athletics Operating Officer at Villanova in 2018- 19 after operating nearly two years as Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Finance. In those roles, he provided leadership for all internal units of the athletic department and had administrative oversight with finance and budget, capital projects, ticket and equipment operation, food service, camps and overall project and event management. He also was the sport administrator for the men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer programs, as well as the secondary administrator for men’s basketball. Before moving to Villanova, Heird worked nearly 10 years at UofL (2007-16), most recently as Assistant Athletic Director for Championships and Facilities from 2012-16. In that role, he had oversight of capital projects approved by the UofL Athletic Association. He also assisted with the day-to-day management of facility operations. Heird was responsible for the management of all ACC and NCAA postseason events hosted by UofL. During his time at Louisville, Heird helped design and oversee the construction of the Jim Patterson Base- ball Stadium expansion, the Ulmer Softball Stadium expansion, the building of the Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Soccer Stadium, the lacrosse stadium press box, as well as the Thorntons Academic Center of Excellence. Heird coordinated several postseason events host- ed by Louisville, including the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional. Louisville also served as home to the 2015 and 2012 Men’s and Women’s Cross Country National Championships, the 2015 and 2012 Men’s Basketball Second and Third Rounds, the 2014 Women’s Basketball Regional, the 2012 Women’s Volleyball National Championship and the 2012 Field Hockey National Championship. He began his career at UofL as Assistant Direc- tor of Championships in April of 2007 before being promoted to the Director of Championships in 2009. Before starting a career in collegiate athletics, Heird spent five years in Washington, D.C. working for Con- gressman Mike Simpson of Idaho and Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado. Heird is a 2002 graduate of Mississippi College, where he was a member of the cross country, track & field and football teams. In addition to being the American Southwest Conference 800 meter champion in 2001, Heird was an all-conference cross country selection in 2001 and was an academic all-conference honoree every semester of his career. He earned an MBA from Louisville in 2009. Heird is married to the former Abbey Woolley. The couple has two children, Hadley (5) and Gus (3). John Carns Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance John Carns is in his 23rd year with the Cardinals and his 11th as Senior Associate Athletic Direc- tor for Compliance. He served seven years as As- sociate Athletic Director for Com- pliance after serving as UofL’s Director of Compliance for four years. Carns is responsible for the development and im- plementation of the University’s policies and procedures in accordance with NCAA, ACC and University regula- tions. He supervises the Cardinals’ men’s and women’s tennis programs and currently serves on the ACC Men’s Tennis Committee. Carns joined the UofL staff in August of 1998 after nearly two years assisting in the compliance office at the University of Miami (Fla.). Prior to his roles in athletics, Carns worked in gov- ernment for the City of Binghamton (N.Y.). He was a community relations assistant for the mayor’s office (1986-88), an economic development assistant for two years (1988-90), the Highway Safety Program Director (1990-91) and a risk manager/paralegal of the Office of the Corporation Counsel (1991-93). Carns earned a B.A. in Communications at State University College at Oswego (N.Y.) in 1985. He gradu- ated with a juris doctor from the Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich., in 1996, the same year he was admitted to the New York State Bar. He also earned a master’s degree in sports administration at St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla. in 1997. A native of Binghamton, N.Y., Carns and his wife Patti have two children: Luke and Payton Ann. Kenny Klein Senior Associate Athletic Director/Sports Information Director Kenny Klein is in his 38th year at UofL, currently serving as Senior Associate Athletic Director on the Cardinals’ senior leader- ship team and as Sports Informa- tion Director. Klein joined the Cardinals’ staff in August of 1983 after nearly two seasons as SID at Morehead State. Prior to that stint, Klein spent four years as an undergradu- ate and graduate assistant at Murray State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1981. At the time of his appointment at UofL, he was the young- est SID at an NCAA Division I football institution at 23. A 2015 inductee into the College Sports Informa- tion Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame, Klein also worked one season as a student assistant in sports information at Austin Peay State University, and was a sports writer for the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle. Klein’s efforts in his longtime role at UofL led to his induction into the state’s Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. He received the 2012 Katha Quinn Award, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association in recognition for providing outstanding service to the me- dia covering college basketball. Klein has coordinated the computerized statistics operation for the past 35 NCAA Final Fours. In his ini- tial season with the Cardinals, Klein edited the 1983- 84 UofL basketball guide which was judged second in the nation by CoSIDA. Klein, who edited UofL’s 352- page basketball history book Above the Rim, has also received other publication awards while at UofL and Murray State. He served as the media coordinator for the 1987 USA Pan American Games men’s basketball team, has served on the NCAA Final Four media coordina- tion committee and annually assists in media opera- tions for the Kentucky Derby. He was the local media center committee chairman for the 1996, 2000 and 2014 PGA Championships in Louisville, and served in a similar capacity for the 2008 Ryder Cup and 2004 and 2011 Senior PGA Championships. He assisted in the media operations at the 1999 Ryder Cup in Boston. Klein serves as vice-chairman of the CoSIDA Schol- arship Committee and is the athletic department’s rep- resentative for multimedia rights with the ACC, including oversight of the Cardinals’ broadcast operations for the ACC Network. Klein, who grew up in Southside, Tenn., is married to the former Donna Graham. He has two sons: Alex, who attended UofL, with wife Beth and his children Clark and Iris; and Brady, a graduate of UofL’s Speed School of Engineering. Marvin Mitchell Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Services and Diversity Marvin Mitchell has 28 years of athletic administration experi- ence and is in his 21st year as a member of the Cardinal Athletics senior administration. Mitchell serves as the department’s chief diversity officer and has oversight of academic services, continu- ing eligibility, student development, student-athlete programming and Thorntons Academic Center of Excel- lence (TACE) operations. Mitchell was the school’s first Associate Athletic Di- rector in the area of academics. He joined the athletic administration staff in December 1999 as Assistant Ath- letic Director of Academic Services after three years at East Carolina, where he directed their student develop- ment program. Prior to his stint at ECU, Mitchell worked five years at his alma mater Wake Forest in many roles, including serving as assistant director of academic ser- vices from 1994-96. Under Mitchell’s leadership, academic success for student-athletes has flourished at UofL. More than half of all student-athletes are consistently named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.0 grade point average each semester. Graduation rates for student-athletes have improved to all-time highs. Com- puter access, tutorial services, objective-based study halls and a new student retention program are among the significant advancements since his arrival. A four-year football letterman for Wake Forest Uni- versity (1987-91), Mitchell is an accomplished speaker and has addressed the National Association of Aca- demic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) National Conventions, NCAA Life Skills National Convention, Nike All-America Camps and various uni- versities, high schools and grade schools. Active in the community, Mitchell has served on various boards including 100 Black Men of America, Clear Channel Communications, Amobi Okoye Foun- dation, National Collegiate 100 and Chestnut Street YMCA. He is a member of Minority Opportunities Ath- letic Association (MOAA), Institute for Sport and Social Justice (Institute SSJ) and the N4A. He also serves as gocards.com n University of Louisville 117 Athletic Administration Louisville BasketballNext >