Lauren Eads begins second first year Saint Joseph's Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations in 2023-24.
In joining the Hawks in 2022, Eads directs the external operations that include the department’s marketing, ticketing, communications and broadcasting, along with serving as liaison to Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment, Saint Joseph’s Athletics multimedia rights partner. Additionally, she oversees fan experience, department branding, and the St. Joe’s nationally-competitive dance and cheer squads. Eads also serves as the sport administrator for women’s lacrosse, working closely with Head Coach Alex Kahoe and her team to continue to advance the program.
Eads came to Saint Joseph’s after spending the past two years at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, most recently serving as chief operating officer. In her role as COO at the MAAC, Eads oversaw all facets of MAAC Championships, with focus on marketing, broadcast operations and strategic growth, and media relations. Before being named COO, Eads joined the organization as the MAAC’s Interim Deputy Commissioner.
Prior to the MAAC, Eads served as Vice President/Director of Athletics at Concordia for more than three years. Leading a department that included 15 Division II programs and nearly 50 employees, the Cavaliers excelled on the field and in the classroom, capturing six Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, including the 2018-19 All-Academic Championship.
Before leading Concordia, Eads oversaw marketing, sponsorships and fan experience as associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at Belmont University for three years, and served as assistant director of Marketing at Saint Leo University before that. Eads began her professional career working at the MAAC, then joined the Missouri Valley Conference.
A four-year standout with the Rutgers’ volleyball program, Eads earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2003 and received her master’s degree in sports management and recreation at Arkansas in 2005, while serving as a volleyball graduate assistant.
