May 14, 2021 – Santa Fe College has hired Greg McVey to be the college’s new Athletic Director, replacing Jim Keites who is retiring after a quarter-century of service to SF. McVey, who will begin at SF May 17, most recently served as Athletic Director at Garden City Community College in Kansas, where he oversaw 15 intercollegiate programs, two fitness centers and the college’s intramural sports.
“I am excited about the leadership experience that Mr. McVey brings to the college,” SF’s Vice President Dr. Naima Brown said for the new Athletic Director. “He has done very well with fundraising, growing tight budgets, improving athletic facilities and connecting to the community. I look forward to working with him.”
Overall, McVey has spent 28 years working in intercollegiate athletics at several levels including the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA, giving him a unique perspective on the role athletics plays in higher education. “I am a firm believer that participation in intercollegiate athletics is not just an activity, but rather an extension of the education process,” McVey said. “Student-athletes learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, communication, and overcoming adversity to name a few. Those life lessons will last them many years after their athletic careers end.”
During his first two weeks at SF, he’ll work closely with Keites to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to benefit SF’s student-athletes. It will also give him a chance to acclimate to Florida, after spending the majority of his career in the Midwest. He also plans on working closely with the coaching staff to ensure the student-athletes have the best college experience.
McVey said he plans on immersing himself in the SF culture, saying that although he knows of the athletic tradition “I came to realize that the academic curriculum is the true superstar. Whether it’s receiving an associate degree, a certificate or participating in continuing education, Santa Fe College has so much to offer the community.”
Be sure to welcome Greg McVey when you see him at SF, and an announcement about a meet and greet in early June will be coming soon. As a reminder, the entire college community is invited to celebrate Jim Keites at his retirement party, Wednesday, May 26, at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Please contact Stacey Ledvina at stacey.ledvina@sfcollege.edu for access to the Zoom link.