Appalachian State Inks AD to Four-Year Extension

Appalachian State announced Wednesday that Athletics Director Doug Gillin signed a four-year contract extension to remain with the school through 2022.

Gillin, who has been athletics director since 2015, helped usher App State through its transition to the Sun Belt Conference; has led to the installation of upgraded video boards in both Kidd Brewer Stadium and the Holmes Convocation Center; pushed forward the design plans for the $38.2 million football end zone project and brokered many football-game agreements with Power Five programs.

"Doug Gillin's leadership of the athletics division has led to unprecedented success for our student-athletes in the classroom and in their sports," App State Chancellor Sheri Everts said in a school-issued statement. "I appreciated his emphasis on the academic success of our student-athletes, his inclusive vision and his thoughtful approach to growth for our athletics program."

During Gillin's three-year tenure, App State has won two Sun Belt Conference titles in football, as well as three straight bowl games - the Camellia Bowl in 2015 and 2016, and the Dollar General Bowl in 2017. Mountaineers wrestling claimed three-consecutive titles from 2016 to 2018. App State's indoor track and field team claimed the conference crown in 2016, along with a 2016 women's cross country title and a 2017 men's cross country title.

App State hosted a Power-Five football program for the first time in 2016 against Miami. App State hosted Wake Forest during the 2017 season, losing a 20-19 game on a blocked field goal. That game set App State's attendance record (35,126 people).

Gillin has also helped raise $30 million of a $60 million fundraising initiative called A Mountaineer Impact, which began in February of 2017.

In November, Appalachian athletics secured the largest donation in school history, a $10 million gift from alumnus Mark Ricks.

App State athletes have achieved a 3.0 grade-point average during the last 11 semesters.

"I would like to thank Chancellor Everts for giving me the opportunity to lead the athletics department at this great institution," Gillin said through the school release. "We have a wonderful team of administrators, coaches and support staff who consistently recruit and develop high-quality student-athletes.

"We've been able to enhance our program through articulating our vision for comprehensive excellence in all facets of our athletic department - academically, athletically, socially and through innovative resource acquisition. We will keep working hard toward our goal of being the best athletics department in the country and provide our student-athletes a world-class college experience," Gillin said through the school release. My family and I are excited about what the future holds at Appalachian."

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