Penn State Hazleton tabs Ryan Ehrie as new Director of Athletics

HAZLETON, Pa. -- Ryan Ehrie of Williamsburg, Virginia has been named as Penn State Hazleton’s new director of athletics. Ehrie, who began his duties on September 15, comes to Penn State Hazleton from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association where he served as senior administrator of championships and previously held the position of administrator of membership services and championships.

At the USCAA, Ehrie expanded the opportunities in several sports, adding teams to the men’s soccer, women’s soccer and softball championships and was integral in creating partnerships with business and community groups for the USCAA’s Basketball National Championships week. Ehrie also oversaw the championships sub-committee and designated and created the first sports committees for all USCAA Championship sports. He also managed the All-American selection process.

Tracy Garnick, director of Student Services and Engagement, said, “We are excited to welcome Ryan Ehrie as the new athletic director. He is an excellent fit for the campus. He brings a great deal of energy, enthusiasm and knowledge in collegiate sports with him. We look forward to enhancing and expanding our athletic, recreation and intramural programs.”

Chancellor Gary Lawler added, “Athletics are the most requested co-curricular activities on campus, allowing students to enhance their collegiate experience and fulfill their need to participate in higher level sporting events. Athletes are among our most successful students because of the leadership and time management skills they develop when playing a sport.”

Ehrie will be the second athletic director at Penn State Hazleton. He will replace the long-serving Dr. Thomas Caccese who retired in December after serving the campus for forty years.
In his position, Ehrie will be responsible for leading a dynamic athletics, recreation and intramural program. This will include the management of personnel, operations, recreational facilities and the recruitment of new scholar athletes.

"I am excited to join Penn State Hazleton and look forward to expanding opportunities to our current and future student-athletes," says Ehrie. "This is an outstanding University, and a top-notch campus, and I am pleased that they have chosen me to add to the already outstanding tradition of Penn State Hazleton athletics."

Before joining the USCAA, Ehrie served as assistant athletic director at Penn State Fayette from 2009-2012.

A native of Montrose, Ehrie earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Penn State and a master’s degree in sport studies with an emphasis in sport management from the University of Tennessee.