Wake Forest Athletics
Congratulations, Ron Wellman! Transformational Leader Ron Wellman Set for Induction to NACDA Hall of Fame
4/8/2025 2:01:00 PM | General
Ron Wellman joins James Weaver (‘71) and Dot Casey (‘13) as the third member of the Wake Forest University community to be inducted into this prestigious Hall of Fame.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Ron Wellman, the visionary leader who shaped Wake Forest Athletics for nearly three decades, is set to receive one of the highest honors in college sports—induction into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame.
Wellman led Wake Forest Athletics for 27 years, taking over from Dr. Gene Hooks in 1992. At the time of his retirement in 2019, he was the nation's longest-tenured athletic director at the NCAA Division I level. Under his leadership, Wake Forest captured 22 ACC Championships, five NCAA team championships, and seven individual national titles. The team championships included three consecutive field hockey titles (2002-04), a men's soccer national championship in 2007, and a men's tennis national championship in 2018.
During his transformational tenure in Winston-Salem, Wellman helped develop countless student-athletes and coaches, producing nine National Players of the Year, four National Freshman of the Year award recipients, and 171 First-Team All-Americans. Additionally, under his guidance, Wake Forest celebrated 607 First-Team All-ACC selections, 41 ACC Players of the Year, 38 ACC Freshman of the Year honorees, 36 ACC Coaches of the Year, 18 ACC Tournament MVPs, and 27 Academic All-Americans.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Wellman attended Bowling Green State University, where he was a pitcher on the baseball team and a member of the freshman basketball team. He later earned his master's degree from Bowling Green before beginning a coaching and administrative career that spanned decades. He joined Elmhurst (IL) College as head baseball coach, assistant basketball and football coach, and associate professor of health and physical education in 1971, eventually serving as Elmhurst's athletic director for five years. He then moved to Northwestern University, where he led the Wildcats baseball team to a 180-97 record and helped develop five future Major League players, including Joe Girardi.
Beyond his impact on Wake Forest, Wellman played a significant role in shaping intercollegiate athletics at the national level. He served as chairman of several influential committees, including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Committee, NCAA Division I Management Council, NCAA Baseball Academic Enhancement Committee, and the NCAA Baseball Committee. Additionally, he was a former president of the Division I-A Athletic Directors' Association and contributed to the NCAA Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee.
Wellman's commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes was evident in his push for academic excellence and leadership training. He emphasized the importance of academic success, helping Wake Forest achieve a 92 percent graduation rate, which placed the university in the top 10 percent of all NCAA Division I institutions. He also established the Deacon Leader program, a comprehensive leadership development system designed to cultivate student-athlete leaders from their arrival on campus through their senior year and beyond graduation.
His efforts extended to athletic facilities, transforming Wake Forest's sports landscape by spearheading $250 million in construction projects between 2008 and 2019. These projects included McCreary Tower at Allegacy Stadium, the purchase of David F. Couch Ballpark and LJVM Coliseum from the City of Winston-Salem, the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex / Haddock House, and the construction of the Sutton Sports Performance Center and Shah Basketball Complex. Other significant facility projects during his tenure included construction of Bridger Field House, Spry Stadium, the Miller Center, Chris Hurd Player Development Center, McCreary Football Field House, and the expansion of the Wake Forest Tennis Complex, which played host to the 2018 NCAA Tennis Championships and the ATP's annual Winston-Salem Open.
Wellman's impact did not go unnoticed, as he received numerous accolades throughout his career. In 2007-08, he was named College Athletic Director of the Year by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) honored him as its AstroTurf AD of the Year for the Southeast Region. In 2020, he received the prestigious Homer Rice Award from the LEAD1 Association, recognizing his transformative contributions to intercollegiate athletics.
Wellman was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 in celebration of his years of service to the university and the Winston-Salem community. His legacy of excellence, leadership, and vision continues to inspire student-athletes, coaches, and administrators alike, making his induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame a fitting tribute to a career defined by success and integrity.
What They're Saying
Wellman led Wake Forest Athletics for 27 years, taking over from Dr. Gene Hooks in 1992. At the time of his retirement in 2019, he was the nation's longest-tenured athletic director at the NCAA Division I level. Under his leadership, Wake Forest captured 22 ACC Championships, five NCAA team championships, and seven individual national titles. The team championships included three consecutive field hockey titles (2002-04), a men's soccer national championship in 2007, and a men's tennis national championship in 2018.
During his transformational tenure in Winston-Salem, Wellman helped develop countless student-athletes and coaches, producing nine National Players of the Year, four National Freshman of the Year award recipients, and 171 First-Team All-Americans. Additionally, under his guidance, Wake Forest celebrated 607 First-Team All-ACC selections, 41 ACC Players of the Year, 38 ACC Freshman of the Year honorees, 36 ACC Coaches of the Year, 18 ACC Tournament MVPs, and 27 Academic All-Americans.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Wellman attended Bowling Green State University, where he was a pitcher on the baseball team and a member of the freshman basketball team. He later earned his master's degree from Bowling Green before beginning a coaching and administrative career that spanned decades. He joined Elmhurst (IL) College as head baseball coach, assistant basketball and football coach, and associate professor of health and physical education in 1971, eventually serving as Elmhurst's athletic director for five years. He then moved to Northwestern University, where he led the Wildcats baseball team to a 180-97 record and helped develop five future Major League players, including Joe Girardi.
Beyond his impact on Wake Forest, Wellman played a significant role in shaping intercollegiate athletics at the national level. He served as chairman of several influential committees, including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Committee, NCAA Division I Management Council, NCAA Baseball Academic Enhancement Committee, and the NCAA Baseball Committee. Additionally, he was a former president of the Division I-A Athletic Directors' Association and contributed to the NCAA Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee.
Wellman's commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes was evident in his push for academic excellence and leadership training. He emphasized the importance of academic success, helping Wake Forest achieve a 92 percent graduation rate, which placed the university in the top 10 percent of all NCAA Division I institutions. He also established the Deacon Leader program, a comprehensive leadership development system designed to cultivate student-athlete leaders from their arrival on campus through their senior year and beyond graduation.
His efforts extended to athletic facilities, transforming Wake Forest's sports landscape by spearheading $250 million in construction projects between 2008 and 2019. These projects included McCreary Tower at Allegacy Stadium, the purchase of David F. Couch Ballpark and LJVM Coliseum from the City of Winston-Salem, the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex / Haddock House, and the construction of the Sutton Sports Performance Center and Shah Basketball Complex. Other significant facility projects during his tenure included construction of Bridger Field House, Spry Stadium, the Miller Center, Chris Hurd Player Development Center, McCreary Football Field House, and the expansion of the Wake Forest Tennis Complex, which played host to the 2018 NCAA Tennis Championships and the ATP's annual Winston-Salem Open.
Wellman's impact did not go unnoticed, as he received numerous accolades throughout his career. In 2007-08, he was named College Athletic Director of the Year by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) honored him as its AstroTurf AD of the Year for the Southeast Region. In 2020, he received the prestigious Homer Rice Award from the LEAD1 Association, recognizing his transformative contributions to intercollegiate athletics.
Wellman was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 in celebration of his years of service to the university and the Winston-Salem community. His legacy of excellence, leadership, and vision continues to inspire student-athletes, coaches, and administrators alike, making his induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame a fitting tribute to a career defined by success and integrity.
What They're Saying
- Ron Wellman:
- "Having the opportunity to work in college athletics my entire career was my ultimate dream. Working with the athletes, coaches and administrators at Wake Forest for 27 years was certainly the highlight of my career. To be recognized by NACDA for my career is an incredible honor. Honestly, this is the result of having so many outstanding administrators and coaches surrounding me. Working with them on a daily basis was extremely enjoyable. I am indebted to them for all that they have achieved...and will continue to achieve."
- Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie:
- "Ron Wellman's unwavering integrity, vision, and commitment to student-athletes have left an indelible mark not only on Wake Forest but on college athletics as a whole. I will always be grateful for his mentorship and leadership, and of course him giving me the opportunity to launch my career on August 16, 1993. Everyday I come to work honored and humbled by the responsibility to build upon the incredible legacy he continued at Wake Forest. No one more is deserving of this honor than Ron."
- Wake Forest University President Dr. Susan R. Wente:
- "Ron Wellman's impact on Wake Forest and college athletics is truly remarkable. Though we did not have the opportunity to work together, his legacy of innovation and dedication to our student-athletes continues to be felt across our campus and beyond. His leadership helped to elevate Wake Forest Athletics to national prominence. This honor is a well-deserved recognition of his contributions to our institution and intercollegiate athletics."
- Wake Forest University President Emeritus Dr. Nathan O. Hatch:
- "For many years, I had the privilege of working closely with Ron Wellman and witnessing firsthand his extraordinary leadership and commitment to Wake Forest. His steady hand, principled approach, and deep care for student-athletes set a standard of excellence that defined an era of tremendous success. Ron's ability to balance competitive achievement with academic integrity is a hallmark of his tenure, and his induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a career dedicated to advancing collegiate athletics the right way."
- Former Wake Forest Football Head Coach Dave Clawson:
- "I am incredibly proud to have been hired by Ron Wellman, a leader I have long considered one of the finest individuals in all of college athletics. His unwavering commitment to integrity, student-athlete success, and excellence has left an indelible mark not only at Wake Forest but across the entire collegiate sports landscape. Ron's leadership transformed Wake Forest Athletics, and his induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of his profound impact on our industry."
- Wake Forest Field Hockey Head Coach Jen Averill:
- "Ron's impact at Wake Forest really speaks for itself. He was a transformational leader who guided our coaches and student-athletes with integrity and a strong sense of purpose. It's been an incredible honor to be part of his journey in college athletics."
- Wake Forest Baseball Head Coach Tom Walter:
- "Ron Wellman launched Wake Forest athletics on to the national scene. The facilities he built, the caliber of coaches he hired and the staff he assembled are all a reflection of who he is at his core. Ron is a man of unwavering integrity, relentless dedication and unfailing consistency. Ron always put the needs of his student-athletes and the needs of the people around him first. Without Ron Wellman's inclusion there can be no Athletic Director's Hall of Fame. I am proud to call him a friend and grateful to call him a mentor.".
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