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WHEELING -- Patrick Snively, Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Fairmont State University, has been appointed Director of Athletics at Wheeling University following a national search.
Snively will be responsible for the overall development and general management of Wheeling University's NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics program effective Jan. 4, President Ginny R. Favede announced.
"Patrick Snively's leadership and range of experience will be great assets as we build on the success of our student-athletes and our programs' competitiveness," Favede said. "He is the right leader at the right time to lead our Cardinals into the future. I was impressed by the amount of interest in this position and know our department is in good hands with Patrick taking the reins. This process was extensive and demonstrated great collaboration between numerous individuals, and across the University.
"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Carrie Hanna for her work as acting director. She's done a tremendous job navigating our department during this uncertain time and we are extremely appreciative of her leadership."
Snively brings to Wheeling University 20 years of experience in athletic department leadership, including the past nine years in an administrative role at Fairmont State. Prior to his most recent role, Snively served as Associate Director of Athletics for NCAA Compliance, a position he had held since 2012.
"I am truly honored and excited to become Wheeling University's next Director of Athletics," Snively said. "I always knew that if I was ever to seek out a new opportunity at another institution after investing two decades at my alma mater it would need to be at a really special place. I know in Wheeling, I've found that place.
"I am grateful that President Favede has faith in me to lead this department. Through this process, I have found her to be a dynamic leader with a great deal of compassion. She loves the institution and it is apparent. I look forward to working with her to build a better Wheeling University."
In addition to his administrative duties at Fairmont State, Snively spent the past 20 years as the head men's and women's swimming coach and was named to the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Board of Directors this past June.
As Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Snively assisted with the day-to-day operations of the department providing support and leadership development to all athletics staff members and coaches. He also worked specifically with student-athlete development to enhance the student-athlete experience at Fairmont State.
"Wheeling Athletics has enjoyed high levels of success historically and I envision even greater levels of success in the future," Snively said. "We have great coaches, great student-athletes, great facilities, great campus leadership, and a great community. All of these, coupled with a meaningful plan to leverage our talents and assets is a recipe for unlimited success. It will be a significant undertaking, but one that I look forward to taking on with our team."
Snively served a key role in the Fairmont State athletic administration, assisting the Director of Athletics with day-to-day functions and providing department leadership in each of the following areas: administration, fundraising, coach leadership development, policy implementation, strategic planning, promotional strategies, and diversity and inclusion programming.
During his 20 years as head swim coach at Fairmont State, Snively was awarded the American Swimming Coaches Association Certificate of Excellence nine times and was selected the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Coach of the Year in 2005 and the Mountain East Conference Women's Coach of the Year in 2018. He has coached swimmers to 26 All-American performances, 91 school records, eight National Swimmer of the Week honors and conference Swimmer of the Year recognition 11 times.
Active in the community, Snively volunteered with the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross. He created Swim for Life as a fundraiser for the Fairmont Area Swim Team and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. He coordinates fundraising efforts with his family to benefit the Marsha K. Snively Memorial Fund and the Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation to raise money to research the disease that took his mother's life in 2007. Most recently, he and his wife Amy began working with the United Way of Marion and Taylor Counties as board members and were involved in fundraising events through the Fairmont State campus campaign and Marion County's Dancing with the Stars breaking fundraising records in each.
Last year, the two chaired the community campaign that raised over $500,000 for local non-profit agencies.
Snively is a member of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America, the American Swimming Coaches Association, and USA Swimming. Snively was also a member of the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Committee from 2016-2018 and chaired the committee in his final year.
Snively also earned a Level 5 certification from the American Swimming Coaches Association of America in June 2018.
Snively received his bachelor's degree from Fairmont State in 1999 and his master's degree in 2000 from West Virginia University. He earned a Master's in Business Administration from Fairmont State in 2014.