Beattie named acting director

Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has announced that Athletic Director Ken Ralph will resign from the post he has held since 2002 in order to accept the position of athletic director at Colorado College. The decision is effective Aug. 16, at which point Rensselaer Sports Information Director Kevin Beattie will assume Ralph’s duties as acting athletic director until a national search is completed.

An Institute search committee, chaired by Rensselaer Union Director Rick Hartt ’70, will begin immediately the process of identifying outstanding candidates to fill the athletic director position.

During his time at Rensselaer, Ralph oversaw the Institute’s 23 NCAA intercollegiate varsity teams — 11 of which are women’s — and three junior varsity squads, involving nearly 600 students. Under his direction student athletes have excelled both athletically and academically.

“Ken’s commitment to excellence has truly raised the bar for Rensselaer athletics,” said President Shirley Ann Jackson. “Through his involvement in helping to preserve Rensselaer’s unique Division I and Division III status and his support for the elevation of the women’s ice hockey program to Division I, he has reaffirmed varsity athletics as one of the cornerstones of student life at Rensselaer. We look forward to continuing to move Rensselaer athletics to even higher levels of excellence.”

Rensselaer has seen nearly 80 students arise as national All-America athletes under Ralph’s leadership, including the Institute’s first-ever national champion in swimming and a national runner-up in track and field. Additionally, nearly 50 athletes have competed in individual NCAA meets and five teams have participated in NCAA tournaments. The football team reached the national semifinals in 2003. Approximately 40 students earned national Academic All-America recognition.

During Ralph’s tenure as athletic director, the grade-point average of a Rensselaer student-athlete has consistently exceeded that of a student not involved in athletics. The Institute’s field hockey team earned the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III Academic Team Award, a distinction that recognizes a program that has the highest team grade point average in the country, in both 2004 and 2005. In 2006 the men’s cross country team posted the nation’s second highest team grade point average.

“Ken Ralph’s passion for sports, coupled with an extreme commitment to education, has encouraged students to exceed their goals in the game and in the classroom, and helped redefine the term ‘student-athlete.’ His enthusiasm and dedication will be missed,” said Vice President for Student Life Eddie Ade Knowles. “I wish Ken all the best, and look forward to working with Kevin Beattie as we continue to elevate our athletic program and increase opportunities for all students.”  

“I want to thank Dr. Jackson and Dr. Knowles for their unending support over the past five years,” Ralph said. “Athletics at RPI is entering a phase of unprecedented growth and success due to increased support at the administrative level. I am confident that our students and staff will carry on in a way that will continue to show Rensselaer at its best. I will always be proud of my association with Rensselaer and the people who make it such a special place.” 

Beattie has served as sports information director at Rensselaer since 1998, handling media relations for the Institute’s varsity athletic teams, and acting as the main liaison between the athletic department and members of the local, regional, and national media. Additionally, Beattie has held the position of director of media relations for multiple NCAA Division I men’s hockey championships and regional tournaments. 

He has served on a number of search committees at the Institute, including the 2006 search for Rensselaer’s 12th head men’s ice hockey coach which brought in Seth Appert. He is currently involved in the development of Rensselaer’s East Campus Athletic Village.

Contact: Amber Cleveland
Phone: (518) 276-2146
E-mail: clevea@rpi.edu