Deputy AD Tatum Colitz Selected for Prestigious NCAA Pathway Program
6/30/2026 9:38:00 AM | General
INDIANAPOLIS -Â Tatum Colitz, who serves as Seton Hall's Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), has been selected to the NCAA's prestigious Pathway Program for the 2026-27 academic year, the NCAA announced last week. Colitz is one of 21 administrators across all three NCAA divisions to have been selected to the highly sought after program.
The Pathway Program, led by NCAA leadership development, is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. It is designed to prepare administrators for executive-level leadership roles within intercollegiate athletics.
Since arriving at Seton Hall in January 2020, Colitz has worked tirelessly as an advocate of student-athlete education and welfare and has been driven to ensure student-athletes maximize their potential. She has led initiatives focused on leadership development, mental health and wellness, Title IX education, NIL strategy, and operational excellence. She spearheaded a department-wide Teamworks partnership to strengthen communication and enhance professional development across all varsity programs. Her leadership has also helped position the department for the evolving collegiate athletics landscape through innovative education, strategic partnerships, and campus-wide collaboration. In addition, she regularly helps guide institutional conversations surrounding major national developments in college athletics, including the House settlement and the emerging revenue-share era.
During the yearlong program, participants of the Pathway Program will examine how values shape leadership philosophy and execution within college athletics and higher education. The curriculum builds practical knowledge in budgeting, strategic planning and fundraising to support both current responsibilities and future roles. The experience includes structured mentorship with senior leaders such as athletics directors, conference commissioners and school presidents, providing personalized guidance and industry insight.
The 2026-27 week-long education session for the cohort occurred June 21-25 in Indianapolis. Colitz and her fellow Division I participants will reconvene Oct. 4-9 in Indianapolis for additional development and governance meeting observation. The program will conclude in the summer of 2027 at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention in Orlando, Fla.
Colitz, a former Div. I student-athlete who captained the Wagner women's swimming & diving team and was a CSCAA Scholar All-American, was also recognized earlier this year on the Silver Waves Media Top 100 Rising ADs/Future ADs list.
The Pathway Program, led by NCAA leadership development, is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants who work at an NCAA school or conference in Divisions I, II or III. It is designed to prepare administrators for executive-level leadership roles within intercollegiate athletics.
Since arriving at Seton Hall in January 2020, Colitz has worked tirelessly as an advocate of student-athlete education and welfare and has been driven to ensure student-athletes maximize their potential. She has led initiatives focused on leadership development, mental health and wellness, Title IX education, NIL strategy, and operational excellence. She spearheaded a department-wide Teamworks partnership to strengthen communication and enhance professional development across all varsity programs. Her leadership has also helped position the department for the evolving collegiate athletics landscape through innovative education, strategic partnerships, and campus-wide collaboration. In addition, she regularly helps guide institutional conversations surrounding major national developments in college athletics, including the House settlement and the emerging revenue-share era.
During the yearlong program, participants of the Pathway Program will examine how values shape leadership philosophy and execution within college athletics and higher education. The curriculum builds practical knowledge in budgeting, strategic planning and fundraising to support both current responsibilities and future roles. The experience includes structured mentorship with senior leaders such as athletics directors, conference commissioners and school presidents, providing personalized guidance and industry insight.
The 2026-27 week-long education session for the cohort occurred June 21-25 in Indianapolis. Colitz and her fellow Division I participants will reconvene Oct. 4-9 in Indianapolis for additional development and governance meeting observation. The program will conclude in the summer of 2027 at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention in Orlando, Fla.
Colitz, a former Div. I student-athlete who captained the Wagner women's swimming & diving team and was a CSCAA Scholar All-American, was also recognized earlier this year on the Silver Waves Media Top 100 Rising ADs/Future ADs list.
2026-27 NCAA Pathway Program roster:
- Rachel Acosta, associate athletic director for compliance/senior woman administrator, Mary Hardin-Baylor.
- Jeremy Armstrong, associate athletics director for marketing, Texas.
- Cory Blackson, assistant athletics director for compliance, Thomas More.
- Spencer Bridges, deputy athletics director/chief revenue officer, Southern Mississippi.
- Lauren Bryne-Dunn, associate commissioner/senior woman administrator, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
- Tatum Colitz, deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator, Seton Hall.
- Liz Dennison, deputy director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Hobart/William Smith.
- Jessica Goerke, deputy athletics director/chief operating officer/senior woman administrator, San Diego.
- Malcolm Grace, deputy athletics director for compliance and NCAA governance, George Mason.
- Rob Heil, senior associate athletics director for development, Kansas State.
- Alex Keddie, senior associate athletics director for compliance, East Carolina.
- Nancy Lake, associate athletics director for compliance, Elizabeth City State.
- Chevonne Mansfield, executive senior associate athletics director/senior woman administrator, Howard.
- Ron Moses, deputy athletics director for revenue growth and competitive excellence, Old Dominion.
- Merce Poindexter, senior associate athletics director for student-athlete welfare and compliance, Valparaiso.
- J.R. Pulido, senior associate athletics director for administration, University of the Incarnate Word.
- Ronda Varnesdeel, associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Davenport.
- Lisa Varytimidis-Cannon, deputy director of athletics/senior woman administrator, Maryland Eastern Shore.
- Derek Viveiros, assistant director of athletics and recreation, Bridgewater State.
- Crystal Westphal, senior associate athletics director/business operations, Central Missouri.
- Jolisa Williams, interim vice president for intercollegiate athletics and recreation, Bowie State.
Wednesday, April 29
Wednesday, April 29
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