Jim Hardy

Jim Hardy was promoted to Director of Athletics in the summer of 2017 after serving as the Assistant Director of Athletics at Campbellsville University since the spring of 2013. He assists the Vice President of Athletics, Rusty Hollingsworth, with the day-to-day administration of the CU athletic department. In 2017-18, Campbellsville University athletics finished third in the MSC President’s Cup Standings after claiming three national championships – women’s wrestling (WCWA), men’s tennis (NCCAA) and baseball (NCCAA). The Tigers won the NCCAA’s 2017-18 Presidential Award for the first time in program history under Hardy’s leadership. The Tigers saw another great year in 2018-19 as CU repeated as winning the NCCAA Presidential Award winner. CU athletics totaled 84 points throughout the span of the season. The Tigers and Lady Tigers earned points in all 12 of the NCCAA Championships CU competed in, including one team national championship – men’s tennis. The men’s tennis championship was the fourth in program history and third in the last five seasons, while the track and field programs brought home multiple individual championships. The men’s and women’s track and field teams to five individual titles – Garland Webb (outdoor and indoor, triple jump), Haley Payton (indoor, triple jump), Sam Kiser (outdoor, 800m), and Corbin Harris (indoor, 5000m). In addition to the NCCAA, Campbellsville also had an individual national title in women’s wrestling as Andribeth Rivera won the NAIA title at 130 lbs. Also, Rachel Woosley won the USCA Archery National Championship to total eight titles throughout the year in respective associations. Hardy helps lead the efforts for facility and event management, as well coordinating CU athletics’ off campus community volunteer and service opportunities and CU’s emphasis of the NAIA’s Champions of Character platform. In addition, Hardy is the NCCAA Mid-East Region Chairman and served on the National Football Committee for four seasons. A 1985 graduate of Campbellsville University, Hardy spent 10 seasons as an assistant CU Fighting Tigers football coaching staff under head coaches Mark Peach, Jim Deaton and Perry Thomas. He served as running backs coach for most of that time and also served as eligibility and equipment coordinator for the team for a number of years. In 2010, he was named assistant head coach. In 2012 he served as running game coordinator and was the recruiting coordinator for the Fighting Tigers, helping to bring in more than 70 student-athlete commitments prior to National Signing Day in February 2013. In 2008, he coached the NAIA’s leading rusher, Greg Fountain, who was named a First Team All-American and went on to sign a pro contract in Europe. Away from the field, Hardy has led numerous Spring Break mission trips with Sports Reach Ministries, which often includes Tiger football players going along to minister through playing sports. He also took over the football program’s community service projects during 2010 and 2011. He and the team were recognized in December 2010 by receiving the NAIA Champion of Character Team Award. Hardy was also speerheaded the 2014 Coaches to Costa Rica Mission Trip for the entire athletics department. In the summer of 2016, he developed another mission opportunity in the summer of 2016 as the coaches and staff traveled to the Dominican Republic to run sports camps and share the love of Jesus Christ. Hardy began his career in athletics in 1984 when he was by Dave Fryrear to be a para-professional football coach at Campbellsville High School.  In 1985, he was hired as a full-time social studies teacher and assistant football coach. Hardy twice received the Campbellsville University Excellence in Teaching Award for Campbellsville High School. During his 24-year tenure Hardy served 17 years as athletic director at Campbellsville High School. During his time at Campbellsville High School, in addition to duties as athletics director, Hardy spent 18 seasons coaching football as a position coach, offensive coordinator and head coach of the Eagles. Hardy spent eight years on the Kentucky board for the All-A Basketball Classic in Richmond, Ky., and also worked to coordinate All-A events in the arts, volleyball, baseball, softball and other sports. He served three terms as President of the KHSAA 5th Region Athletic Directors Association and was inducted into the 5th Region Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 2009. He also served three terms (12 years) as president of the Heartland Athletic Conference. Aside from his undergraduate degree from Campbellsville, Hardy received a master’s degree in secondary education and physical education from Western Kentucky University in 1990 and was nationally certified in Athletic Administration (CAA) in 2004 through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. A lifelong resident of Campbellsville, Hardy and his wife Lorri are members of Campbellsville Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon. Lorri serves as an administrative assistant within the football and baseball programs at CU. They have two children, Jackie and Tyler.