Anderson University President Evans Whitaker has announced that former longtime Clemson University athletics administrator Bill D’Andrea has been named Director of Athletics for the Trojans. D’Andrea will replace Nancy Simpson, who is retiring later this month.
Simpson is slated to step down in mid-May, with D’Andrea (dee-ANN-dray) scheduled to take the reins of the athletic program, Monday, June 1.
“We were truly fortunate to bring a person of Bill D’Andrea’s experience and stature in collegiate athletics to our university,” said Whitaker. “Bill has a proven track record of excellence in building winning programs, maintaining high academic credentials in athletes, and in securing the resources it takes to grow an athletic program. We’re delighted he’s joining our team.”
D’Andrea most recently served as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at Clemson, while his administrative career with the Orange and Purple spanned 25 years. He served with the Tigers’ athletic department in both full-time and part-time positions for more than three decades, beginning as a graduate assistant football coach under legendary CU head coach Danny Ford in 1983 and 1984.
After serving as a full-time assistant at Southern Mississippi during the 1985 campaign, D’Andrea returned to the Upstate the following season as the Tigers offensive line coach, serving in that role until being named Associate Athletic Director/Director of Student-Athlete Enrichment Programs at Clemson. He helped lead the Tigers to a 38-8-2 record, including three straight Atlantic Coast Conference Championships (1986-88) during his tenure as an assistant coach.
As an assistant A.D. for 11 years, D’Andrea helped pioneer the Tigers’ student-athlete enrichment, serving as the first director of Vickery Hall, which is Clemson’s student-athlete enrichment facility. He built the foundation for success by increasing the number of student-athletes with 3.0 GPA’s or above by nearly 30 percent, while establishing the Honor Roll Banquet to recognize student-athlete’s academic achievements.
D’Andrea was elevated to Senior Associate Athletic Director in 2001, supervising all external affairs of the athletic department and oversaw all of Clemson`s fundraising activities (IPTAY), promotions, marketing, tickets, and sports information.
The Morgan, Pa. native, reorganized the revenue-generating components of the Clemson athletic department under one umbrella, generating more than $35 million dollars over a 10-year span and created the first capital campaign for Clemson athletics. Under his guidance, Clemson repeatedly set records for both donors and football season-ticket holders. D’Andrea was active in Atlantic Coast Conference administration and served on the ACC’s Sportsmanship Committee.
D’Andrea received his undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Indiana State in 1973 and earned a master’s degree from East Carolina in 1975.
He was a member of the Sycamore football team as an offensive lineman for four years and following his playing days, D’Andrea served as an assistant football coach at Virginia, Massanutten Military Academy and South Atlantic Conference-member Catawba.
D’Andrea and his wife Lee reside in Central, S.C.
“I am excited about this opportunity,” said D’Andrea. “I want to thank President Whitaker and the Board of Trust. I look forward to working with the administration, the staff and the student-athletes. I am very fortunate that I am inheriting a solid athletic program with integrity.”
After serving eight years at the helm of the Anderson athletics program, Simpson announced in mid-March that she would be stepping down as Director of Athletics for family and personal reasons.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve Anderson University and to lead Trojan Athletics for the past eight years,” said Simpson. “It is also a special and significant honor to pass on the torch to such a seasoned and talented professional as Bill D’Andrea. I look forward to continuing to support the university, the athletic department and Bill as he leads our program in the future years.
What they say about Bill D’Andrea …
“I have a longtime association with Bill and he is one of the most respected people to ever work for Clemson University. Everyone loved him and he was very successful in several areas, while taking on a lot of responsibility. He did a terrific job at Clemson and I am sure he will do a great job at Anderson. I am excited for Anderson University. He is a great fit.”
-Former Anderson Assistant Director of Athletics Cobb Oxford
“Bill has a great reputation and I look forward to him continuing the great tradition of Trojan athletics. With his reputation, and his history and experience, he is a great fit for Anderson University.”
-Former Anderson Director of Athletics Bobby Beville
Bill D’Andrea named AU Director of Athletics. pic.twitter.com/EBLibfie7m
— Anderson Trojans (@autrojans) May 1, 2015
. @autrojans Names D’Andrea Director of Athletics http://t.co/1H3rojDHrC pic.twitter.com/1xHe0wHWGh
— South Atlantic Conf. (@SAC_Athletics) May 1, 2015