Lincoln University of Missouri Athletics

Dr. Kevin Wilson, Lincoln University's Vice President of Advancement and Athletics, is in his third year as the leader of the LU Department of Athletics. Dr. Wilson's responsibilities include fundraising for the university, directing the department of athletics, and overseeing the cheerleading, marching band and choir programs.
 
A proven veteran in both the realms of college athletics and university development, Dr. Wilson has experience working at a plethora of different programs, ranging from Historically Black Colleges & Universities to the highest level of NCAA Division I. Dr. Wilson's resume boasts success as both a fundraiser and as an athletic administrator, and his vast experience has led to multiple invitations to give presentations at multiple national conferences over the past eight years.
 
During his first two years at LU, Dr. Wilson has secured funding to renovate the KWAME Golf Center and LU Softball Field into state-of-the-art facilities. While most NCAA Division II universities have been reducing their sports offerings, Dr. Wilson's leadership has allowed Lincoln to add baseball, women's soccer and men's soccer, all three of which will begin competition in 2024-25. Dr. Wilson has additionally brought in large donations for Lincoln's football and men's and women's basketball programs and has helped provide the resources to allow the nationally-respected Blue Tiger track & field programs to continue finishing among the top-10 in the nation. In 2023, Dr. Wilson spearheaded Lincoln's move from the MIAA into the GLVC.

Dr. Wilson came to Lincoln from Florida A&M University, where he oversaw athletics development, licensing, marketing, strategic communications and corporate partnership initiatives. Dr. Wilson also served as a liaison to the FAMU Foundation and was the sport administrator for the baseball and men's golf team. Baseball reached its conference tournament and men's golf secured its first-ever conference championship during his tenure.
 
Prior to moving to Florida A&M, Dr. Wilson worked at Washington State University, serving as an Assistant Athletic Director with the Cougar Athletics Fund. Dr. Wilson raised over $1 million during his tenure including numerous commitments of over $50,000 for scholarships and capital projects. He also served on the Athletics Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Council and the LGBTQ+ Sub-Committee, helping to strategically create an atmosphere of inclusiveness at WSU.
 
From 2016-19, Dr. Wilson was the Assistant Athletic Director for Championship Resources at the University of Central Florida and secured over $1.5 million in new major gift commitments supporting the program's football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams. Dr. Wilson's contributions translated onto the field, as both the men's and women's basketball teams reached the NCAA Tournament, and the UCF football team went from being winless in 2015 to going undefeated in 2017 for the first time in program history.
 
Dr. Wilson began his career in college athletics at North Carolina Central University, starting as the Director of Basketball Operations for the men's program before transitioning into a role as a development associate. His first job as an Assistant Athletics Director came at Fayetteville State University, where he oversaw all development and marketing initiatives for the athletic department. Dr. Wilson would later return to NC Central in 2014 to become the Associate Athletic Director for Development, leading the department to unprecedented growth in philanthropic giving.
 
A three-year Letterwinner on the Duke University football team, Dr. Wilson graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. Dr. Wilson later earned a master's degree in physical education, with a concentration in athletics administration, from North Carolina Central in 2012, and in the spring of 2022, he earned a doctorate in leadership in education administration from the University of Florida.

He is also a proud graduate of the prestigious Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute and a member of both the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). Wilson additionally serves on the NAADD Diversity working group, a support network for minority development professionals in the industry through education, advocacy, and awareness.

Kevin and his wife, Dr. S. Lavi Wilson reside in Jefferson City and are the proud parents of Kendrick, Knox and Klay.
 
 
What leaders across the country are saying about Dr. Kevin Wilson:
 
Johnny Dawkins - 1986 Naismith College Player of the Year, NBA veteran and current head men's basketball coach at the University of Central Florida: "Kevin is a builder. He has the tools to navigate this ever-changing athletics landscape. He made an immediate impact on our program by identifying key stakeholders in a short order. His ability to inspire others elevated the student-athlete experience and cemented our program amongst the top of the AAC. I have no doubt he will work tirelessly to do the same at Lincoln University of Missouri."
 
Dr. Daniel J. White – Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics at the University of Tennessee: "I am extremely happy for Kevin and his family as he moves into the role of Vice President of Advancement, Athletics and Campus Recreation at Lincoln University. Kevin is a charismatic and dedicated leader who will be a great fit for Lincoln."
 
Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree – Athletic Director at North Carolina Central University: "I'm very thrilled for Kevin to have this opportunity. It's been a pleasure not just to have him on my team at NCCU but also to be a part of his circle. I think he's going to do a phenomenal job. He has the patience and the know-how. Kevin's a very smart individual and has seen athletics from all levels, and I think that's what's going to propel him and help the program at Lincoln."
 
Michael Connell – Acting Vice President for University Advancement at Washington State University and CEO of the WSU Foundation: "Kevin has an excellent understanding of advancement and athletics. He is articulate, bright and passionate about the well-being of student-athletes. And I do mean student-athlete; he is just as concerned about their success in the classroom as he is their success in competition. I think Lincoln University made an outstanding hire."
 
Michael Morseberger – Former Vice President for Advancement at the University of Central Florida and CEO for the UCF Foundation: "I worked with him for a few years, and it's hard not to fall in love with his great smile, firm handshake and beautiful family. He's got a great work ethic; he's lived that dream, worked hard to get a scholarship to attend college and wants to give those opportunities to other young men and women. He takes a real donor-centric approach. It's not about what the university needs from the donor, but about what the donor wants, and that attitude has helped him be really successful. I'm excited for him, I think Lincoln will be a great opportunity."
 
Zach Maurides – Founder and CEO of Teamworks: "I think Lincoln has made a brilliant decision, and I'm thrilled for both Lincoln and for Kevin. One of the things about Kevin as a leader in college athletics is that he personally is someone who has experienced the value of being a student-athlete, and what it can do for you, your life and your family in terms of creating opportunities. As a leader, what excites me about this hire is that he's worked at multiple levels across college athletics and in multiple roles. His career has really prepared him to come in and understand from top-to-bottom and from left-to-right what it takes to deliver on the promise that an athletic department makes to its student-athletes."