The University of Indianapolis announced the hiring of Kim Pate as the next leader of Greyhound Athletics in November 2024. Pate previously spent the past eight-and-a-half years as the Vice President for Athletics at fellow-Division-II institution Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Pate comes to Indianapolis as one of the most respected leaders in NCAA Division II, earning the 2023 Cushman & Wakefield NCAA Division II Athletic Director of the Year by NACDA. Under Pate’s direction, Lenoir-Rhyne finished 12th in the final Learfield Directors Cup standings in both 2023 and 2024.
Lenoir-Rhyne won three team national championships during Pate’s time in Hickory, including back-to-back trophies in the sport of women’s triathlon in 2022 and 2023 as well as men’s lacrosse in 2023. The Bears claimed six conference titles and four regional championships in 2023-24, including football, softball and women’s soccer. The department also produced 43 All-Americans in that span.
Pate’s success at Lenoir-Rhyne also shone off the field of competition, where she emphasized the importance of community service. Lenoir-Rhyne ranked ninth in NCAA DII with more than 7,500 community service hours as an athletics department, marking the fourth straight year in the top 15.
Pate also has success in capital facility improvements, raising over $31 million at Lenoir-Rhyne. The renovation of its football and lacrosse stadium made it one of the best facilities in NCAA DII, with other significant projects including the renovation of its basketball and volleyball arena, construction of its sports performance center, a weight room, and indoor training area, as well as current renovations to its softball stadium.
Pate has served in the role of Director of Athletics for 17 years at three different institutions, beginning at her alma mater Brevard College, where she oversaw 18 NCAA DII programs. She also spent five years as the Director of Athletics at GLVC-member University of Illinois Springfield from July 2011 to May 2016, assisting in the University’s transition to NCAA Division II.
Pate recently served as President for the Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA), as well as being a member on the DII Management Council, National Association of Collegiate Director of Athletics (NACDA) Executive Committee, NCAA DII Congressional Engagement Committee, and DII Engagement Task Force.
Pate earned her Master of Business Administration from Western Carolina University and bachelor's in Business and Organizational Leadership from Brevard College. Together with her husband Rick, they have one daughter, Carsen.
