Service, passion, excellence: these are the words Brad Fields lives by.
These are also the words Eastern’s Athletic department will live by now that Fields is the new Director of Athletics and Athletic Development.
“We’re called to serve, we’re passionate about our role in the Eastern community, and we’ll strive for excellence,” Fields said. “I will be committed 100 percent of my time to the betterment of the department.”
Fields began his duties as Athletic Director in July, but this is not his first time managing athletics. In fact, Fields has a great deal of experience in sports management, having been in a leadership position in not one, but all three divisions of the NCAA.
“God was preparing me for a position in sports management,” he said. “When I heard about this opportunity (at Eastern), I knew it was to be.”
So far, Fields has several plans for Athletics, including more fundraising opportunities, hosting the new Eastern Classic golf tournament and the formation of a booster club called the Eagle Club.
“I think the university is committed to our goals,” he said. “I’m excited about the vision of where we could go, what our potential is.”
And with a goal of reaching the Top 50 Division III Athletic Programs in mind, Fields is sure to lead the Eagles in the right direction.
Born and raised in Kentucky, Fields gained his undergraduate at Centre College and just recently earned his Masters in Sports Management from California University (Pa.). Before attending college, Fields played sports, and was even the sports editor of his college newspaper for two years.
He ultimately was a student worker for the athletics department at Centre, and that’s when he first became interested in sports management. “I learned the true meaning of the words ‘student athlete,'” Fields said.
Before working at Eastern, Fields worked for the Division I Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University as their Director of Athletic Media Relations. Before that, he was the Assistant Athletic Director at the University of South Carolina – Aiken.
Fields is married to Julie Fields who is currently the resident manager of the apartments in the VFMA property, and they have a seven-month-old daughter named Madelyn.