Bio

Twitter: @NikRule

Nik Rule is in his seventh year as Athletics Director.

Rule has overseen growth and success in the athletic department with a record number of NAIA Scholar Teams, the most points in the Learfield Sports Directors Cup, high performances in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Commissioner’s Cup, and growth in intercollegiate offerings with the addition of six new sports.  Additionally, he has led the development of a dynamic athletic operations team that is vertically integrated with the University’s Sports Management program providing a big time feel Gameday experience. 

He is also a Vice President of the NAIA Athletic Directors Association, and the Heart of America Athletic Conference representative to the NAIA National Administrative Council (NAC), serves as the athletic director liaison to the Heart’s Association of Student-Athletes, is the Board of Governors sport liaison for men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s soccer, serves as a committee member for the NAIA’s National Drug Testing and Education Committee, the NAIA Champions of Character Advisory Board, and the NAIA Revenue Generation Advisory Board. He also serves on the selection committee for NAIA Men's and Women's Bowling and women's lacrosse National Championships, and serves on the board of the Business of Small College Athletics.

Rule has a rich and diverse history at William Penn. A 2010 graduate of WPU with degrees in History/Government and Communications, Rule also received a Master’s of Business Leadership from his alma mater in 2016.  He earned another Master’s (Sports Administration) from Liberty University in 2015.

Rule came from across campus, having been the Director of Corporate/Foundation Relations and Athletics Booster Club beginning in 2012.  He was responsible for cultivating relationships with alumni, businesses, and foundations and served as liaison between the Advancement and Athletics departments.  He established the Corporate Sponsorship Program and oversaw the growth of the Athletics Booster Club.  Rule also started the WPU Athletics Team Store and led the negotiations for William Penn’s first exclusive apparel contract with Nike.

Rule was also the Head Women’s Golf Coach beginning in 2010 and grew a once struggling program into a dominant force within the Heart and the NAIA.  He directed the team to five league crowns and five top-20 NAIA National Championship finishes.  The program ranked in the nation’s top 25 for four straight years.  He was named Conference Coach of the Year on four occasions, led the team to two NAIA Buffalo Funds Champions of Character Team Awards, and was named the Heart’s Champions of Character Coach of the Year as well.

Beyond serving in the athletic department, Rule served on the Oskaloosa School Board for four years and is on the President of the Mahaska County Recreation Foundation.

Prior to his time at William Penn, Rule worked at Musco Sports Lighting from 2010-2012.  While at Musco, he managed a project-driven team tasked with carrying out company and community projects, while also expanding the company’s public relations and communications efforts.  He developed and served as editor of the Musco Connection company newsletter as well.

As a Statesmen student-athlete who competed in soccer and golf, Rule was a three-time first-team all-conference performer on the pitch (also league Newcomer of the Year).  He also earned an NAIA Scholar-Athlete honor and two Region VII Scholar-Athlete laurels.  Rule received the league’s NAIA Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award as well.

Rule resides in Oskaloosa with his wife and fellow William Penn graduate Sadie, their son Thatcher, and their daughter Wembley.