Harris Selected WIAC Commissioner

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) announced today that Danielle Harris has been selected to succeed Gary Karner who is retiring following a 24-year tenure as the WIAC commissioner. Harris will assume the position effective July 1.
 
Harris comes to the WIAC after serving as the Associate Commissioner of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) since 2013. At the GLIAC, Harris oversaw the sports of men’s/women’s basketball, men’s/women’s soccer, softball, track and volleyball. She also played a key role in conference governance, compliance, championships and student-athlete welfare.
 
Prior to the GLIAC, Harris served as an athletic coordinator at Cleveland State University. She earned her B.S. from Bowling Green University and her M.A. in sports management from Kent State University in 2005 and 2009, respectively.
 
Danielle Harris Quote:
“I would like to thank the search chairs Chancellors Andrew Leavitt and Dennis Shields, and the entire search committee for their time and dedication during this process. I look forward to continuing to build upon the tradition of success that Gary Karner has established in the WIAC over the past two decades. The conference has been a Division III trailblazer both academically and athletically. It is an honor to be selected as your next commissioner. I am excited about collaborating with the league presidents, athletic administrators, coaches, student-athletes and alumni on branding the conference with student-athlete centered initiatives both nationally and internationally.”
 
Darryl Sims (UW-Oshkosh Assistant Chancellor and Director of Athletics) Quote:
“There was a competitive group of talented individuals in our candidacy pool, underscoring how impressive the WIAC is, and we are enthusiastic in announcing Danielle Harris as the next WIAC Commissioner.”
 
Chancellor Andrew Leavitt (UW-Oshkosh) Quote:
“We value the long legacy retiring Commissioner, Gary Karner, has provided and feel he has left our conference in the position to build on a prestigious foundation for years to come. We are pleased to on-board, Danielle Harris as the new Commissioner, and looking forward to her continuing to enhance our student-athlete experiences.”
 
Chancellor Dennis Shields (UW-Platteville) Quote:
“Danielle shares expertise in; team leadership, membership development, meeting facilitation, championship administration, compliance and policy development, student-athlete programming, budget management and marketing and social media. We feel her demonstrated skill sets align with the needs of the conference moving forward and look forward to her leadership in shaping our next phase of the WIAC.”