Following an extensive national search, Denison has named Matt Tanney as the new associate vice president and director of athletics, effective July 1, 2025. Tanney, an educator and administrator with 17 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics and a law degree, joins Denison from his alma mater, Wabash College, where he has served as the athletics director since 2018.
Involved at many levels of intercollegiate athletics governance, Tanney serves on the NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators, and as an athletics director’s co-chair in the North Coast Athletic Conference.
“We are so excited that Matt is joining Denison. His extensive experience and commitment to student-athletes will help build on our momentum in athletics,” President Adam Weinberg said. “Our community will benefit from his expertise, enthusiasm, and dedication. His background and connections with the NCAA and NCAC will help position our already strong athletics program for years to come. We look forward to welcoming him to The Hill.”
At Denison, Tanney will assume the duties of retiring Nan Carney-DeBord ’80, whose 14-year tenure saw Denison grow into one of the NCAA’s best-run Division III programs and become the envy of the North Coast Athletic Conference.
“Intercollegiate athletics is at an inflection point, and Denison is positioned to lead in this new era as a model of academic and athletic excellence with its unparalleled commitment to holistic student development,” Tanney said. “I’m excited to support President Weinberg’s vision for the university and work alongside coaches and staff to not only build on Nan’s incredible legacy, but to innovate and enhance opportunities for Big Red scholar-athletes to win championships and develop as leaders at an elite liberal arts institution.”
In his role at Denison, Tanney will be a member of the president’s senior staff and oversee all aspects of the university’s NCAA Division III athletic program, campus recreation, and physical education. He will oversee a department of 26 intercollegiate sports, 100 full-time and part-time coaches and staff, approximately 650 student-athletes, and 350 student employees.
“Matt impressed the search committee with his passion for college athletics and his firm grasp of the opportunities and challenges facing Denison and other Division III programs,” said Ric Hall, vice president for Student Life and search committee chair. “He received similar positive feedback from coaches, campus partners, and most importantly, students.”
At Wabash, Tanney led a staff of more than 50 staff members, oversaw the execution of the Monon Bell Classic, one of the largest D-III football rivalry games in the U.S., and spearheaded the addition of men’s volleyball as a varsity sport in 2019.
Tanney has extensive teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels and a track record of building relationships with students, staff, and alumni.
“Tanney was the clear choice to lead our department,” said Sara Lee, deputy of athletics and search committee co-chair. “During our search process, Matt articulated a vision for the future that aligns perfectly with Denison’s values and our commitment to excellence. With Matt’s leadership, we look forward to continuing to elevate our student athletes’ experience while driving us to new levels of success.”
Prior to his time at Wabash, Tanney worked in the athletic departments at Western Illinois University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Dayton, and The Ohio State University. As the athletic director at Western Illinois, he led a 19-sport NCAA Division I athletics program, supervising a department with a $12 million budget and more than 80 coaches and other staff.
An English major at Wabash, Tanney graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, then earned a law degree from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University.
He hails from a family with deep connections to competitive athletics, including two brothers with NFL ties: Alex Tanney, assistant coach for the Indianapolis Colts and retired NFL quarterback, and Mitch Tanney, former director of analytics for the Denver Broncos. His father, Don Tanney, is a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Tanney and his wife, Julia, have twin daughters.
Search committee members
- Ric Hall (search chair), vice president for Student Life
- Sara Lee (co-chair), deputy director of athletics
- Holly Breymaier (administrative support), executive assistant
- Amanda Daniels, associate professor, head women’s lacrosse coach
- Mike Deegan, associate professor, head baseball coach
- Drew Duffy ’27, student
- James T. Glerum Jr. ’82, trustee
- Mary Kate Kennedy, director, community values & student conduct
- Richard Kienzle ’85, trustee
- Matt Kretchmar, professor, computer science
- Vivian Quaye ’03, trustee
- Sallie Sistare, associate vice president, institutional advancement
- Jesse Yeager, director of recruitment