Koudele Named Senior Associate AD, Compliance & Administration

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Daren Koudele, a veteran college athletics administrator with 15-plus years of experience in NCAA compliance, has been named Senior Associate Athletic Director, Compliance & Administration, Director of Athletics John Currie announced today.

Koudele, who has spent the past decade in compliance leadership positions at Division I institutions, will lead all aspects of Wake Forest's Athletics Compliance Department and will serve as a member of the sport administration team and senior staff. A member of the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC) since 2006, Koudele currently serves on NAAC's Rules Education Committee.

During his nine-year tenure at Kansas State University, Koudele was promoted four times, most recently to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance in April 2020. He has served as a member of the Director of Athletics' Senior Staff and Sports Administration leadership teams. In addition to leading the Wildcats' NCAA compliance office, Koudele was the primary liaison to the Big 12 Conference and NCAA for all compliance and governance issues. He also had administrative oversight of the equipment department, including assisting with the NIKE apparel and equipment contract.

In his role at K-State, Koudele supervised the development of new compliance systems to ensure adherence with NCAA rule changes regarding cost of attendance, time management, and transfer reform legislation. He also chaired K-State's Academic Services, Admissions, Registrar's Office, Financial Aid Committee (ARC), while serving as the athletic department's administrative liaison to the campus community in these areas.

Prior to his tenure in Manhattan, Koudele led the compliance program at the University of Northern Iowa as Director of Compliance from 2010-2012. He managed all aspects of the compliance program for all 17 UNI varsity sports and over 390 student-athletes.

Koudele came to Northern Iowa from Newman University in Wichita, Kan., where he was the Associate Athletic Director and Compliance Coordinator from 2007-2010. While at Newman, he assisted managing the athletic department's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, and assisted the athletic director with budgeting, scheduling, hiring coaches, fundraising, game management, academic progress, and strategic planning initiatives.

Koudele began his career in NCAA compliance serving as a graduate assistant at Wichita State University (2005-07) in the Student Services department. Prior to entering athletic administration, Koudele practiced law for the firm Levicoff, Silko & Deemer, P.C. in Pittsburgh, Pa. He earned his juris doctorate from West Virginia in 2004, where he was a member of the Law Review.

A native of Derby, Kansas, Koudele earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Kansas State in 2001, and a master's degree in Sports Management from Wichita State in 2017. His wife, Joanna, works as a certified McKenzie physical therapist and also as an adjunct instructor at Kansas State in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

What They Are Saying...

Daren Koudele
Senior Associate AD, Compliance & Administration

"I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to lead the Wake Forest compliance office supporting the Demon Deacon coaches, staff, campus community and student-athletes. I have seen the impact of John Currie's leadership and vision at K-State and I appreciate his proven commitment to integrity and the student-athlete experience. I would like to thank John, (Deputy AD) Lindsey Babcock, and the Wake Forest administration for allowing me to join them. I am excited to be a member of John's senior leadership team in this position and I look forward to making a difference in the lives of Wake Forest student-athletes, coaches, and staff."

John Currie
Director of Athletics, Wake Forest University

"We are thrilled to welcome Joanna and Daren to Wake Forest. Daren brings proven relationship building skills, expertise in intercollegiate athletics with outstanding knowledge within the ever-evolving world of compliance. He will work tirelessly to ensure we meet our goal of providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience. He was a valuable contributor to our success at K-State and I know he will have a similar impact on Demon Deacon Athletics."

Lindsey Babcock
Wake Forest Deputy Director of Athletics for Internal Operations, Senior Women's Administrator

"After an extremely exhaustive and inclusive search process, Daren Koudele continued to stand out through his conversations with our hiring committee and coaches. Daren was a tremendous colleague and asset to our staff during my time at Kansas State and he and his wife, Joanna, will fit in extremely well at Wake Forest. I am excited to welcome them to Winston-Salem!"

Jill Shields
Kansas State University Deputy Director of Athletics, Senior Women's Administrator

"Daren has been an invaluable member of our department for the past nine years. He took over as the leader of our operation this past year and has done an outstanding job helping our coaches, student-athletes and staff navigate through what has been daily rules changes and interpretations. We certainly wish him all the best and know that he will be a tremendous asset to John's staff at Wake Forest."

Dr. Be Stoney
Kansas State University Faculty Athletics Representative

"As the Faculty Athletics Representative at Kansas State University, Daren has been great to work with over the past nine years. I appreciate his dedication as a Compliance Director who is a hard-worker, committed to institution control in athletics, his knowledge in interpreting the Conference and the NCAA By-Laws, and the lasting relationships he established with coaches, ADs, sports administrators, the FAR, and our student-athletes. Daren will serve Wake Forest with the same dedication, commitment, and integrity he provided for Kansas State Athletics. As Wake Forest Athletics begins to welcome Daren to its staff, they have a great person who will bring the same work ethic and enthusiasm to the athletics department and sports programs."

Wake Forest Athletics

Koudele Named Senior Associate AD, Compliance & Administration

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