BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College President Bill Thierfelder has been selected to serve on the NCAA Division II Presidents Council. He will serve a four-year term until 2022.
The Presidents Council is the highest governing office in NCAA Division II Athletics and consists of 16 members who are presidents or chancellors at NCAA-sponsored institutions. Each member represents a region of 100 colleges or universities.
The Council is charged with guiding “the strategic direction for the division in all areas, including the division’s financial affairs and championships administration.” Further, it is the primary sponsor of legislative proposals at the NCAA Convention. Dr. Thierfelder represents Region 2, including Conference Carolinas, of which Belmont Abbey College is a member.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to help forward the mission of Division II in educating and forming young men and women in body, mind and soul. My personal experiences of competing and coaching at Olympic, International and NCAA levels enable me to understand the needs of students pursuing both academic and athletic excellence,” Dr. Thierfelder said.
Dr. Thierfelder is a former NCAA Division I Coach, National Champion and a two-time All-American from the University of Maryland. He is a licensed psychologist and received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Sports Psychology and Human Movement from Boston University. He is also the author of ‘Less Than a Minute to Go: The Secret to World-Class Performance in Sport, Business and Everyday Life.’
Entering his 15th year as president of Belmont Abbey College, Dr. Thierfelder has been an advocate of the importance of collegiate athletics as it relates to excellence and virtue in all aspects of life. The number of athletic teams at Belmont Abbey College has more than doubled under his leadership.
— Belmont Abbey College