Bio

Allen Ackerman had an award-winning tenure as UW-Oshkosh’s director of athletics for 19 years, overseeing 19 national championships, 64 conference titles and several construction projects.

Ackerman, named UW-Oshkosh’s second full-time director of athletics in 1991, remained in the position until his retirement in 2010. Prior to coming to UW-Oshkosh, the Athens, Ohio, native was the director of athletics at Elmhurst College (Ill.) from 1981-91.

Ackerman played a key role in the conversion of Titan Stadium into the Oshkosh Sports Complex, a venue for the community that generates millions of dollars annually for the local economy. He also helped UW-Oshkosh increase its varsity sport offerings from 19 to 21 teams during his tenure. The university added women’s soccer in 1993 and women’s golf in 1996.

Ackerman was named the 2003 NCAA Division III Central Region Athletics Director of the Year after 13 of UW-Oshkosh’s 21 sports were represented in postseason play, including the national champion men’s cross country team and the national runner-up men’s indoor track & field squad.

Nine different Titan athletic programs won national titles in Ackerman’s 19 years, including baseball, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field.

Ackerman planned and supervised construction of a new swimming & diving facility in Albee Hall as well as remodeling efforts that improved several aspects in Kolf Sports Center. He also helped in planning the construction of the UW-Oshkosh Student Recreation and Wellness Center in addition to developing a corporate sponsorship program for UW-Oshkosh athletics.

Ackerman oversaw a department whose student-athletes combined to collect 43 Academic All-America Awards from the College Sports Information Directors of America and 42 WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year citations. UW-Oshkosh had six top-10 finishes in the NCAA Division III Learfield Directors’ Cup standings under Ackerman’s direction, including third place in 1996, fifth in 1997 and seventh in 2001.

UW-Oshkosh was also the host of numerous conference, regional and national championship events during Ackerman’s leadership.

In 2001, Ackerman received the Pinnacle Award from the Fox Cities Convention & Visitor’s Bureau for his role in attracting the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship to Appleton in 2000. This year, UW-Oshkosh will host the event for the 17th consecutive season.

Ackerman, who served on several NCAA committees, oversaw a department that hosted 24 national championship events across six sports. In addition to the baseball championship, UW-Oshkosh also hosted indoor and outdoor track & field, cross country, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball championship events during Ackerman’s 19 years.

Ackerman graduated from Ohio University in 1975 and earned his master’s degree from the institution in 1978. He was an offensive lineman on the Bobcats football team and captain of the track & field squad.

Ackerman was an assistant football coach at Ohio University from 1977-79 before accepting a teaching and coaching position at Elmhurst College in 1979. Ackerman was the Elmhurst College head track & field coach from 1979-87 as well as an assistant football coach from 1979-81.

In 1981, Ackerman assumed the role of Elmhurst College’s director of athletics and remained in that position until he accepted the director of athletics position in 1991. His tenure at Elmhurst College was highlighted by women’s volleyball national championships in 1983 and 1985.

Ackerman and his wife Sue reside in Oshkosh. Ackerman is the father of daughter, Sarah, and son, John.