Old Dominion University President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. has announced that Tim House, one of the top collegiate athletics leaders and fundraisers in the country, will be the sixth Director of Athletics in school history. House, whose appointment is effective January 1, 2027, comes to ODU from Michigan State.
“When we set out to find our next Director of Athletics, we were looking for a high-energy, forward-thinking leader to keep driving our institution to new heights. But, above all, we wanted a leader of deep character and unmatched grit,” President Hemphill said. “What sets Tim apart is his profound humility combined with a fierce competitive spirit and an absolute refusal to be outworked. He is a proven leader, fundraiser and revenue generator. He has built a career working tirelessly behind the scenes so that student-athletes, coaches and staff can shine the brightest on the biggest stages.”
At Michigan State, the Spartan Athletics Foundation reported directly to House, who led a comprehensive advancement strategy, driving philanthropic growth and donor engagement. Part of that strategy included ambitious, measurable fundraising goals aligned with university priorities and athletic department needs and initiatives. In addition to serving on MSU’s leadership team, House supervised multiple sport programs and administrative teams, along with managing initiatives that positioned Michigan State for success amid an evolving intercollegiate athletics landscape. Notably, he served as an administrator for the MSU hockey team during their standout season, which saw the program win the Big Ten Championship and advance to the Elite Eight.
Prior to his time at MSU, House spent seven years with Purdue, culminating in his promotion to Deputy Athletics Director and Associate Vice President for Development in 2025. While at Purdue, House demonstrated a well-rounded executive skillset beyond his track record in fundraising. He ran the hiring process for both Purdue golf coaches, programs that have perennially competed in the national championships throughout their tenures. He also spearheaded the creation of the 1869 Society, an initiative that brought Purdue-owned businesses together in direct support of student-athletes, contributing to an unprecedented run of four straight years of 100% post-graduation placement for Purdue student-athlete graduates. In recognition of his broad impact and dedication to student-athlete success, House was awarded the 2022 Joe Tiller Award, an honor voted on directly by Purdue student-athletes to recognize the individual who supported them the most.
Prior to House’s time at Purdue, he completed two stints at Army. He began in 2012 as an associate director of athletic development before leaving to become Penn’s major gifts officer. After a nearly two-year stint with the Quakers, he returned to Army as the Assistant Athletics Director for Development before being promoted to Associate Athletics Director of Development. Prior to Army, he spent close to two years at Duke.
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, House is married to Jen and together they share three daughters, Emerson, Leah and Harper. He received his start in college athletics at Vanderbilt, starting as a marketing intern before moving into a development role. During his student years, he worked simultaneously in student roles at both Vanderbilt and Belmont. He earned his undergraduate degree in sport management from NC State and earned his graduate degree in sport administration from Belmont.
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