Snively, Courtney Promoted Within Athletic Administration
Director of Athletics Chad Fowler and Vice President of Student Affairs & Athletics Tim McNeely announced two promotions within the Department of Athletics at Fairmont State University on Monday afternoon.
Entering his 18th year working in the Department of Athletics, Patrick Snively has been named Senior Associate Director of Athletics. Snively will assist with the day-to-day operations of the department providing support and leadership development to all athletics staff members and coaches. Snively will also work specifically with student-athlete development – a new institutional initiative aimed to enhancing the student-athlete experience.
Ryan Courtney, who is in his third year as Director of Internal Operations, has also been promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics for Internal Operations. Courtney joined the athletics staff at Fairmont State in August of 2016 after spending 16 years in operations, and membership and tournament sales at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, WV - one of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses according to Golf Digest. Courtney also assisted with tournament operations at the Nationwide Tour Players Cup at the Pete Dye Golf Club and at the PGA TOUR’s - The Greenbrier Classic.
Snively will be a key member of the Fairmont State athletics administration, assisting the Director of Athletics with day-to-day functions and providing department leadership in each of the following areas: administration, fundraising, coach leadership development, policy implementation, strategic planning, promotional strategies, and diversity and inclusion programming.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Pat remain as a member of our Athletics Administration team, and we are very happy that he has agreed to help form this new leadership development position - a very important initiative that will position us as leaders in this area for our student-athletes,” said Fowler. “We are also pleased to have Pat returning for his 18th year as head swim coach. The Fairmont State swim programs have been very successful over the past two decades and we are looking forward to continued success in the pool.”
Snively is in his 18th year as head swim coach at Fairmont State and has also spent the last five years as Associate Director of Athletics for NCAA Compliance. During 2017-18, Snively led the Falcon women’s swim team to the first-ever Mountain East Conference Championship, with senior Marlena Dudek becoming the only swimmer in the MEC to earn All-America honors at the 2018 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. The Falcons swept MEC Swimmer of the Year honors with Dudek on the women’s side and Alex Quintao on the men’s side.
Snively has now coached swimmers to 26 All-American performances and nine conference swimmer of the year awards. Snively also wrapped up his term as the chair of the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Committee this past spring.
Snively earned a Level 5 certification from the American Swimming Coaches Association of America (ASCA) this past June.
Snively and his wife Amy reside in Fairmont.
Courtney has been instrumental in the growth of athletics at Fairmont State since he arrived in the fall of 2016, assisting with the day-to-day operations of the department, and supervising all game day operations & marketing, budgets, team travel, ticket sales and branding.
“Ryan quickly transitioned his experience and background on the athletics staff at Fairmont State,” said Fowler. “We are fortunate to have his leadership within our department as he serves in a very important role as a member of our athletic administration.”
In 2018, Courtney was at the forefront of Fairmont State’s new contract with BSN Sports and Nike as the department’s official provider of apparel and equipment.
In 2016-17, Courtney served as tournament manager as Fairmont State hosted a first round NCAA Division II Playoff Game in football and the Atlantic Regional Tournament in men's basketball. Courtney also helped manage travel party arrangements as the men's basketball team advanced to the Division II Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Courtney is a former collegiate standout as an All-American on the West Liberty University wrestling team after placing seventh in country as a junior in 2001. Following his wrestling career, Courtney served as a graduate assistant wrestling coach at West Virginia University and became assistant wrestling coach at Alderson-Broaddus College in 2013-14.
Courtney currently resides in Bridgeport with his wife Whitney. The couple has three children; Mackenzie, Savannah and Cole.
Ryan CourtneyPat SnivelyFighting Falcons Athletics
