Rockhurst University Names Kristy Bayer New Director of Athletics

Kristy Bayer has been named the new director of athletics at Rockhurst University, effective July 6, 2021. Bayer comes to Rockhurst from Emporia State University where she has served as the deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator since December 2017.

“We welcome Kristy’s experience in every aspect of Division II athletics, including student-athlete development and support, strategic planning and fundraising,” said the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., president of Rockhurst University. “More importantly, her demonstrated commitment to community service, diversity, equity and inclusion, and relationship building will make her a great companion in expressing Rockhurst University’s mission and core values.”

Bayer will become the first female director of athletics at Rockhurst and will be the third active female director of athletics in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

“Rockhurst University has a strong tradition of academics, athletics, and community engagement,” said Bayer. “These pillars of the NCAA D-II philosophy drew me to this position, and they align with my own philosophies on intercollegiate athletics. I am honored to have been chosen as Rockhurst University’s next athletic director and I am looking forward to becoming a Hawk.”

A 2020 graduate of the NCAA Pathway Program, a selective training opportunity for emerging leaders, Bayer holds a number of leadership positions, including serving on the NCAA Championships Committee, and the NCAA Board of Governors Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Equity. At ESU, Bayer is a member of the Athletics Advisory Board and the University Diversity and Inclusion Alliance.

Prior to her time at Emporia State, Bayer spent 14 years at Arkansas Tech University as the associate athletic director/senior woman administrator and head coach of the volleyball team. She had a career coaching record of 364-132 and won seven conference tournament or regular season titles at ATU. In her final season, Bayer was named the AVCA Central Region Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading ATU to a 35-1 record in 2017. She was a five-time conference Coach of the Year honoree.

Bayer is a graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she was a four-year starter on the GVSU volleyball team and still holds the school record for career assists with 5,441 from 1997-2000. An All-American selection her senior season, the former Kristy Kale was inducted into the Grand Valley State Hall of Fame in 2007. 

Bayer holds a Master of Education in higher education from GVSU and is pursuing a Doctor of Education in higher education from the University of Memphis. She is a native of Jackson, Michigan.

Bayer replaces Gary Burns, who has served as director of athletics since 2011. Burns will focus on his role as head baseball coach and assist the university’s advancement division with relationship building and fundraising.