April 23, 2008

DURHAM, NC - North Carolina Central University announces the appointment of Ingrid Wicker-McCree as director of athletics. She held the interim position for the past five months, replacing William "Bill" Hayes who announced his departure in early December.

"We are very pleased to announce this appointment," said Chancellor Charlie Nelms. "Ingrid's demonstrated record of leadership and achievement is a real asset to our team. Not only does she have a history of being a winning coach, but she has provided excellent leadership during this transitional period."

Wicker-McCree, who joins the rank of only a handful of women athletic directors in the UNC system, previously served as NCCU's associate athletics director for internal affairs. She has served in a variety of leadership positions in both conference and national level organizations, most notably as president of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Executive Board from 2004-06, becoming only the second woman to ever hold that position in the league's history. In addition, she served as a member of the NCAA's Division II Legislation Committee from 2003-07.

In recognition of her work, Wicker-McCree received the CIAA Leadership Award for Service as president of the Executive Board and was named the CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year in the spring of 2006.

Now entering her 15th year at NCCU, Wicker-McCree has been one of the driving forces behind NCCU's reclassification to NCAA Division I. Since 1998, she has overseen the internal operations of the Athletics Department, including all compliance and eligibility programs.

"I am truly honored by this appointment," said Wicker-McCree. "Maintaining NCCU's rich history of academic success and athletic excellence as we transition to NCAA Division I will be a core focus for our department."

Wicker-McCree began her career at NCCU as the head coach for women's volleyball and softball. She became the first coach in NCCU history to win conference championships in multiple sports, capturing the school's first-ever CIAA titles in softball (1998) and volleyball (1999, 2004, 2005). A three-time CIAA Volleyball Coach of the Year (1999, 2002, 2005) and former member of the NCAA Division II National Volleyball Committee, Wicker-McCree earned 239 match victories in 12 seasons as head volleyball coach at NCCU. She was also inducted into the NCCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 as head coach of the 1998 softball team.

A native of Durham and graduate of C.E. Jordan High School, Wicker-McCree played on two North Carolina high school state volleyball championship teams, while also lettering in basketball and track and field. She continued her volleyball playing career as a student-athlete at George Washington University.

Wicker-McCree earned her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from George Washington University in 1989, and a master's degree in recreation resources administration from North Carolina State University in December 1991. She is currently completing doctoral studies in higher education administration at North Carolina State University.

She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the women's volleyball program at N.C. State. She then spent two seasons (1992-93) as head volleyball coach and student-athlete academic counselor at North Carolina A&T State University before returning to her hometown to begin her NCCU tenure in August 1994.

Wicker-McCree has been involved as a player and coach in the USA Volleyball Carolina Region. She also served as director of three USAV Junior Olympic Teams (ages 18, 16, 14 and under) and director of the Y.M.C.A. Middle School Girls' Volleyball Camp (ages 10-14).

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Media Contact: Miji Bell (919) 530-6295