After seven years of leading the Aquinas College athletic department, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics Nick Davidson has recently announced his resignation. Davidson leaves AQ to become the Vice President of Membership Recruitment and Retention at the NAIA National Office. His final day at Aquinas will be May 31st.
Davidson took over as Director of Athletics in the summer of 2016 and began a successful seven-year reign as he focused on creating a winning culture and enhancing the student-athlete experience. During his time at Aquinas, he was promoted to Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics and most recently to Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics.
"It has been an honor and a pleasure working with Nick Davidson," noted Dr. Alicia Córdoba, President of Aquinas College. "He is a true leader. Nick shared his passion for our students through his love of sports and the desire for students to continuously seek intellectual growth."
Aquinas has maintained its standing as a household name on the national scale, as the Saints have regularly finished in the top-30 of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, which amounts to the national all-sports trophy. The AQ athletic department placed 22nd in the country in 2016-17, 27th in 2017-18, recorded the school's best-ever finish of 10th place in 2018-19, finished 28th in 2020-21, and 29th in 2021-22. No standings were announced in 2019-20 due to COVID and the 2022-23 standings are not yet complete.
AQ has also positioned itself as a premier athletic department in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference during Davidson's tenure. After a fifth-place finish in the league's all-sports trophy standings - named the Fred Smith Commissioner's Cup - in Davidson's first year at the helm, Aquinas recorded consecutive third-place finishes in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Again, no standings were announced in 2019-20 due to COVID, but Aquinas has posted back-to-back-to-back WHAC runner-up finishes the last three years, placing second behind only Indiana Tech each year.
"Nick was instrumental in helping the Aquinas College community navigate the COVID crisis, and he did so with grace and fortitude," Córdoba added. "He will be missed. We wish him and his family well as he begins a new adventure in athletic leadership."
The athletic department has featured widespread success among a variety of programs since Davidson arrived in 2016-17. During that time, 19 different Aquinas teams have qualified for their respective national tournaments at least once, including 13 programs that have made multiple national championships appearances. Since 2016-17, Aquinas has won 12 NAIA National Championships in track and field, either as individuals or in relays. The AQ men's hockey team claimed the 2017 American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 3 National Championship and the 2018 NAIA Tournament title.
Nearly 200 AQ student-athletes have received All-America honors for their on-field performances since Davidson began in 2016-17. The Saints have also had a large number of coaches and players receive conference, regional, and national yearly awards.
Additionally, Aquinas athletes have excelled in the classroom. During the 2021-22 academic year, AQ student-athletes compiled a 3.285 grade point average and 29 varsity teams held a 3.00 cumulative GPA. The Saints recorded 177 NAIA Scholar-Athletes (academic All-Americans) last year alone, an honor awarded to students who reached junior status or above academically and owned a 3.50 cumulative grade point average.
"I would like to thank Aquinas College for seven wonderful years of personal and professional growth," Davidson commented. "I am thankful for the incredible coaches and staff that I have been blessed to work with over my seven years. They have truly embodied the philosophy that athletic administrators support coaches, coaches support student-athletes, and student athletes have an outstanding experience."
Davidson was tasked with modernizing and growing the athletic department and he did so with stellar results. He spearheaded efforts to increase student enrollment and supported the addition of new teams by adding more staffing in the department. Aquinas has added the following programs since 2016-17: an athletic band, men's volleyball, esports, men's and women's swim and dive, men's and women's rugby, and STUNT. Davidson was instrumental in beginning junior varsity programs in men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, and men's and women's basketball to increase college enrollment.
The Aquinas staff has grown during his tenure with the addition of a full-time Sports Information Director, an Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Internal Operations, an Assistant Athletic Director for Facility Operations, and a Facilities/Business Office Manager. Additionally, more full-time head and assistant coaches have been added across a number of sports.
Davidson played a key role in establishing the Coach Terry Bocian AQ Athletic Hall of Fame, named after Terry Bocian, the longtime Aquinas coach and athletic director who preceded Davidson. The upcoming 2023 AQ Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will be the third such event highlighting standout Aquinas athletes, coaches, and teams from the school's rich history.
Another important early accomplishment of Davidson's tenure was leading the organization and unification of athletic branding, colors, and logo usage in the department. There is a more cohesive and comprehensive style and look in regards to team apparel, uniforms, and practice gear, which was developed early during Davidson's time at AQ. He also assisted with funding and directed the installation of the new outdoor turf field, which is an essential area of campus for all students and is the home field for men's and women's soccer and men's and women's lacrosse.
In conjunction with his leadership role at the West Michigan Sports Commission, Davidson played a large role in bringing the NAIA Men's and Women's Lacrosse Invitational to Grand Rapids in 2018 and 2019. He oversaw a 500-person opening banquet, 14 games over four days at the AQ Athletic Field, crowned two National Champions, and welcomed 16 teams, traveling parties, and visiting fans to Aquinas during both of those national competitions.
Davidson also assisted across campus during his time at AQ, most notably when he served as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics. He was a vital contributor to helping Aquinas manage the COVID-19 pandemic and also led the development of new policies and processes, along with implementing these throughout campus. Davidson helped develop co-curricular learning outcomes that supported the institutional learning outcomes.
He led a task force that redeveloped New Student Orientation and defined learning outcomes for STAR days and continued through orientation. Also in his student affairs role, he hired a Title IX Coordinator to update the office by using software and accurately track and communicate the process. Davidson changed health care partnerships to Mercy Health to reestablish the on-campus health center.
He served on the President's Cabinet for more than six years and was also on the Bookstore taskforce. Davidson helped revamp the meal plans for students to include all-you-can-eat options, the addition of Schnitz Deli as an option, and the Aquinas Supper Club. He led the negotiation of the campus-wide contract with Pepsi and was a key figure in adding single-room options for students in the residence halls.
"I enjoyed my time in student affairs, focusing on the student experience and leading in a time of the pandemic taught me what was most important: the safety of our students, staff and faculty," Davidson explained. "Aquinas has amazing students. Everywhere I go when I am wearing an AQ shirt, I hear 'Go Saints!'. People have an affinity for AQ that runs deep. It has truly been a blessing to be a part of such a staple of Grand Rapids, and especially with it being in my hometown."
"Aquinas will forever hold a special place in my heart and my family's hearts. My kids have spent most of their life growing up on campus and watching games, attending homecoming and other events on campus. They truly felt it was home and we will all miss AQ."
Current Deputy Director of Athletics Claudette Charney will serve as the Interim Director of Athletics for the 2023-24 academic and athletic year.
"I am excited to work with Claudette, who will be stepping in as interim athletic director," said Córdoba. "She will be reporting to Brian Matzke, the Vice President for Enrollment Management, who is looking forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship between athletics and student recruitment and retention."
