Margaret (Peg) Bradley-Doppes has been named the new director of athletics and recreation at Denver. Doppes, who coached for 11 years and has been in administration for the past 14, will take over July 1.
“Peg Doppes shares the University of Denver’s values: quality, excellence and integrity in all that we do,” said Denver chancellor Daniel Ritchie. “Her record demonstrates enduring commitment to the student-athlete that will continue the Pioneer tradition of excelling both in sport and in academic performance. Peg’s passion for the proper role of athletics and recreation in higher education is downright contagious; there is nothing lukewarm about her.”
Doppes was most recently director of athletics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) from 1999 to 2004. USA Today and the NCAA ranked the Seahawks first in the nation for student-athlete graduation rates.
At Michigan, North Carolina and Miami (Ohio), Doppes coached volleyball teams that won four conference championships.
Last July, Doppes was named Outstanding Athletic Director by the All-American Football Foundation, and in October the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators named her Administrator of the Year in Division I-AAA (non-football programs).
Doppes’ 10 years of NCAA committee service includes a seat on the organization’s powerful Management Council (2003-present) representing the Colonial Athletics Association.
Doppes succeeds Dianne Murphy, who served as AD for six years before moving last fall to Columbia University, where she is director of athletics at the Ivy League school. Among those Doppes beat out for the position, Associate Dir. of Athletics Ron Grahame, a former DU goalie.
“I’ve fallen in love with the energy and standard of excellence that is everywhere I look,” said Doppes. “Everything in the Pioneer program will continue to be done the right way. Count on me to keep the momentum at its ambitious pace, and to raise the bar.”
Stu Halsall, director of recreation, will continue to serve as Denver’s interim director until Doppes’ arrival.
