Farris Hired as New Director of Athletics

Oskaloosa--William Penn University President John Ottosson is proud to announce the hiring of Grant Farris as the new Director of Athletics.

Farris, who has served as WPU's Associate Athletics Director since February 2024, has been with the University since 2022.

Over the past year, Farris served as sport oversight for numerous programs, while also supervising the Athletic Operations team.

"It is always a challenge to replace a talented and energetic leader," Ottosson said.  "We were fortunate that in our search for a new athletic director, we had a quality pool of applicants to vet and choose from.  In the end, Grant rose to the top of the list.  He has demonstrated a commitment to our University since he first arrived in the Advancement office, and then as Associate Athletic Director.  His skillset will allow us to build an even stronger legacy of success.  I am excited to work with Grant in his new role."

Prior to his time in Athletics, Farris served in the Development office for two years.  While in that role, he helped create and implement annual giving initiatives, including the Annual Giving Day as well as overseeing the Athletics Corporate Sponsorship Program.

Farris came to William Penn from Rogers State University (Okla.) where he was an undergraduate and graduate student.  In 2019, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management, and while there, he was an intern in Athletics for Development and Marketing.  During his internship, Farris assisted with the Hillcat Athletics Golf Classic as well as facility branding initiatives.

Farris then earned his Master's of Business Administration from RSU in 2021.  As a graduate student, he was also a Graduate Assistant for Ticket Operations and, along with other duties, led the transition to HomeTown Ticketing for online ticketing.

Moving up the ladder after graduating with his Master's, Farris was hired as Assistant Athletic Director for Development at Rogers State and served in that role for one year.  In that position, he led the department's fundraising and booster club efforts and implemented its transition to the Hillcat Athletic Fund.  He was a member of the department's executive team as well.

"It is a tremendous honor to step into the role of Director of Athletics at William Penn University," Farris said.  "I am deeply grateful to President Ottosson and the search committee for their trust and confidence in me.  I also want to thank Aleesha Rabedeaux for her leadership and support during my time as Associate Athletic Director."

"William Penn is a special place, and I am excited to continue working with our coaches, staff, and student-athletes to build on our proud tradition and elevate Statesmen Athletics to new heights," Farris added.  "Together, we will continue to grow a culture of excellence--one that prioritizes student-athlete success, competitive achievement, and a strong sense of pride in what it means to be a Statesmen in the Oskaloosa community."

Farris was a two-year member of the Rogers State baseball team.  He earned first-team all-conference honors in 2019, was captain of the 2019 conference tournament championship team, earned Conference Tournament MVP honors that same year, and was a four-time conference President's Honor Roll honoree.