Jim Hamad became the Director of Athletics at Aurora University in winter 2013. On November 30, 2020 he assumed the title of Vice President for Athletics.
He came to AU from Pepperdine University where he spent part of five years as the Associate Director of Athletics for Student Development.
In his time at the helm of the AU Athletic Department, Hamad's Spartans have captured the Northern Athletics Conference All-Sport Awards 13 times, with the men winning the 2012-2013, 2014-2015, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 awards and the women winning in 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2022-2023. 90 Spartan student-athletes have been named All-American, 47 student-athletes have been named Academic All-American, and nearly 2,500 Spartan Scholar awards have been granted.
Under his leadership, the Spartan athletic program has continually finished in the top 100 annually in the Learfield Cup standings. The best finish came in 2014-2015 with a top 50 ranking and 55th in the 2022-2023 year. AU had a top 80 finish in 2015-2016 and top 70 in 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2021-2022; and 61st place finish in 2018-2019. The Spartan athletic programs have won 87 conference championships with 111 team and individual appearances in the NCAA Tournament/Championships. This run has been highlighted by multiple NCAA Sweet 16 and national finals appearances by Spartan teams and student-athletes. In 2017, AU led by track and field thrower Ryan Njegovan won the University's first NCAA Championship (team or individual) at the Indoor Championship (shot put) and he then won at the Outdoor Championship in the discus.
Hamad has overseen facility upgrades throughout Alumni Hall with further upgrades coming at the Spartan Athletic Park, the outdoor home of AU Athletics. In the summer of 2014, Thornton Gymnasium underwent a complete makeover which included constructing the Spartan Hall of Fame. More recently, an All-American recognition room was created and air-conditioning inside Thornton.
Off the playing surface, Hamad has high expectations for the Spartan student-athletes. He has started academic support and career development programs at AU, including the Spartan Academic Game Plan, Faculty Team Mentors, academic progress reporting, monitored study hall, and created a relationship with a student-athlete job placement firm.
Getting AU emersed in the community has been a focus for Hamad as well as AU has spearheaded community service and service learning programs, including forming relationships with a local food bank, an after-school mentoring program and a homeless shelter.
He is a member National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) while serving as the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) basketball liaison and the Midwest Lacrosse Conference (MLC) lacrosse liaison. He is also on the Executive Committee for the Aurora Area Sports Alliance.
Hamad has held a number of leadership positions in Division I collegiate athletics over the past decade, including roles at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Akron, directing initiatives that improve student performance in the classroom and on the playing field.
At Pepperdine he revamped the academic support system for the Pepperdine athletics program, which has led to the highest graduation success rate among southern California Division I institutions. He was also part of an athletic administration that won 17 conference championships.
Hamad has been involved with the National Football League–N4A Advisory Committee, which creates degree-completion opportunities for collegiate non-graduates who have pursued a professional sports career.
In his years as an athletic administrator, Hamad has served on a variety of boards and committees and been honored with numerous awards. While at Pepperdine, he served on the Special Admissions Board, the Faculty Athletics Committee, the Athlete Wellness Committee, the Alcohol/Drug Awareness Taskforce, and met with community leaders regarding career and volunteer opportunities for athletes.
Hamad was the Coordinator of the Esperance Program, which brought disabled adults to Pepperdine University weekly to engage in physical activities. He then was the recipient of Esperance’s Administrator Award in 2012.
In 2005 he was awarded the University Park Alliance Student Involvement Award for the creation of after-school sports clinics in Akron-area elementary schools and in 2004 he was awarded the PGA First Tee Director of Programs Award for the partnership created between University of Akron student-athletes and First Tee youth programs.
In 1996, he was named a NCAA Division III Track and Field All-American.
A 2000 graduate of Kent State, Hamad earned a bachelor's degree in conflict management. He went on to acquire a master's degree in higher education administration from Akron in 2005.
Hamad and his wife, Courtney, have a daughter, Sofia and son, Michael.
