Tim Downes, the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Emory University since 2007, has announced his resignation effective June 30, 2015.  Downes will assume the athletic director duties at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta.

During his tenure, Downes oversaw and played a direct role in numerous accomplishments that had a positive and profound impact on the fortunes of the 18-sport program, with Emory teams having claimed 54 University Athletic Association championships as well as eight NCAA Division III national titles.  During the 2012-13 school year, Emory finished No. 2 in the Learfield Sports Directors Cup which recognizes the best overall intercollegiate athletic programs in the nation within the various divisions.  Under his watch, Emory recorded top-10 finishes in the Directors Cup on six occasions.

In addition to the athletic success of the department, Emory student-athletes shined in the class room as well, earning a total of 32 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships and 50 Academic All-American berths.  Downes has been active on the NCAA front, serving on the Management Council, Championships Committee, Academic Issues Subcommittee and Subcommittee on Legislative Relief. 

One of four Division III recipients for the 2013-14 Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award, Downes made a number of infrastructural enhancements, including the re-surfacing of the Woodruff PE Center’s outdoor and indoor tracks, construction of a softball batting cage, the installation of a wood floor on the fourth floor of the Woodpec, spectator seating for tennis, re-surfacing of the indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a drainage system at Chappell Park and updated scoreboards at the softball, baseball, soccer and tennis venues.

“It’s difficult to put into words my appreciation for Emory University and the personal and professional growth that I’ve experienced as being a part of this community, Downes said.  “Our coaches, our staff and our students embody everything that is great and good about intercollegiate athletics and our scholar athletes have inspired me on a daily basis as the real life example of doing it all and doing it all the best.” 

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