Kevin Lanke has been named the Associate Vice President for Athletics at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) by President Dottie L. King, Ph.D. Lanke comes to SMWC after almost 25 years in the athletic department at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He was most recently Associate Athletic Director for Communications and, prior to that, held the titles of Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Sports Information Director. He also served as the primary media relations contact for Rose-Hulman’s hosting of the Indianapolis Colts Training Camp from 1999-2009.
The current Associate Vice President for Athletics, Ron Prettyman, announced his departure last semester for the end of June 2023 to work on consulting opportunities.
President King said of Lanke joining the SMWC Athletic Department, “I am very pleased that Kevin will be joining the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Athletics Department and serve in this leadership capacity. His years of experience combined with his understanding of the Wabash Valley will serve us well!”
Lanke graduated from Rose-Hulman with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and went on to earn his Master of Arts in Recreation & Sport Management from Indiana State University. After graduating from Rose-Hulman, he became the Men’s Sports Information Director for the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC), where he created the first website for the conference. He then returned to Rose-Hulman as the Sports Information Director.
Lanke is excited to get his Pomeroy career started. “Being chosen to lead the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College athletic department is the highlight of my athletic administration career. With the recent addition of several new varsity sports and the transition of the Pomeroys into the NAIA, the next few years will define SMWC athletics for years to come. It is a true honor to be chosen as the leader of the SMWC athletics team during this critical time in its history.”
Prettyman came to The Woods in July 2021 and was instrumental in the transition for SMWC from USCAA to NAIA, as well as the introduction of the new scholarship sports of men’s basketball, sprint football and men’s volleyball. “Kevin Lanke is a seasoned professional that will lead Pomeroy Athletics into the future. With his professional background and his local involvement in the Terre Haute community, Kevin will be able to bring new and creative ideas to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as the program continues to grow, develop young Women and Men academically, physically, socially and spiritually, and win championships.”
During his time at Rose-Hulman, he was twice awarded the Rose-Hulman Excellence in Service Award in 2015 and 2017 and was recognized with the President’s Outstanding Service Award in 2016.
Brennan Randolph, vice president for enrollment management and institutional technology, said about Lanke’s hire, “Kevin brings to The Woods the experience and community connections that will propel Pomeroy Athletics into the future. Kevin has a deep passion for the field of athletics, where he has dedicated his career for 25 years. I am very appreciative of the efforts of the search committee that spent several months helping to identify our next AD. We will welcome Kevin to the Pomeroy family in early June and look forward to his many successes at The Woods.”
Lanke will begin his duties at the College on June 5.