Salem Native Ken Ralph Leaving U Of Maine AD Job For Division III

GEORGETOWN, TX —Salem native Ken Ralph has announced that he will be leaving his job as athletic director at the University of Maine at the end of the month to take over as AD at Southwestern University in Texas.

Ralph, a longtime swim coach and administrator, has been the AD at Maine since 2018. While the Orono-based school competes at the Division I level, Southwestern University —located in Georgetown, which is outside of Austin —is a Division III program.

"Words cannot express the excitement I feel in being asked to join the team at Southwestern University. With a clear vision for the future and outstanding leadership, Southwestern is poised to make significant strides as it secures its rightful spot as a top-tier liberal arts university," Ralph said in a statement.

Ralph continued: "There is a strong commitment at SU to provide a first-class experience for the students, and I am looking forward to athletics being an exciting part of the future of the institution. It's a great day to be a Pirate!"

According to Southwestern University, one of Ralph's main achievements at Maine was to secure a $90 million gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation, which was one of the top-ten largest single gifts ever given to an athletic department.

Prior to Maine, Ralph spent 11 years as the athletic director at Colorado College and he was the athletic director at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) from 2002 to 2007.

At Colorado College, Ralph achieved record-setting athletics fundraising and sponsorships, including spearheading the $27 million expansion of the El Pomar Sports Center and the construction of the recently completed $52 million Robson Arena, according to Southwestern University.

"I am delighted to welcome Ken Ralph to Southwestern,” SU President Laura Skandera Trombley said. "(Ralph) has an outstanding reputation as a national leader in athletics design, leadership, and fundraising. His commitment to our student-athletes and coaches is most welcome, and he has been a long-time admirer of Southwestern University."

Trombley continued: "I know Ken is looking forward to moving our program forward as we change football conferences next year, as well as expanding and improving our athletic facilities."

Ralph was a Division II All-American swimmer at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He began his swimming head coaching career in 1992 at Georgetown University, where he was in charge of both the men's and women's teams. He later coached both the men's and women's teams at Kutztown State and Connecticut College.

Ralph also served as a senior assistant athletic director at Connecticut College.