GCU Athletics

Laura Liesman served as the Georgian Court Director of Athletics from 2003 until 2021. During her 18 years, Georgian Court Athletics successfully transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division II. She was also driving force behind the addition of men's athletics as the university transitioned to a fully co-educational institution. She oversaw the expansion from six intercollegiate sports to 14 and the number of student-athletes from 45 to more than 300. Under her guidance, GCU constructed a $26 million dollar state-of-the-art athletics complex in 2008 and added a turf field in 2013. Liesman, a two-time (2018, 2011) CACC Athletic Director of the Year selection, was named a 2019-20 Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, a group that spanned seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). She also served as the Chair of the NCAA Division II Management Council in 2019 and was the recipient of the prestigious Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey Garden State Award. Among the many Georgian Court accomplishments during her tenure, the Lions received the NCAA Division II Teamworks Award for most service hours completed in both 2017 & 2018. 
 

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