Dec. 7, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2007

CONTACT: Miji Bell (919) 530-6295

DURHAM, NC - North Carolina Central University announces the appointment of Ingrid Wicker-McCree as interim director of athletics. She replaces William "Bill" Hayes who announced his departure earlier this week.

Wicker-McCree previously served as the university'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. Since 2003, she has served as a member of the NCAA's Division II Legislation Committee.

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 14th 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.

"The depth of Ingrid's experience will continue to serve the university well," said Chancellor Charlie Nelms. "We are very fortunate to have someone with such a demonstrated record of leadership within the ranks who can continue to lead our athletic department forward." 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 earned her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from George Washington University and a master's degree in recreation resources administration from North Carolina State University. She is currently completing doctoral studies in higher education administration at North Carolina State University.

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