UC San Diego Athletics
Apr 13, 2018
Earl Edwards
UC San Diego Athletics

Earl W. Edwards accepted the position of Director of Athletics at UC San Diego in March of 2000. Under his guidance, the 23-sport program has made a very successful transition from the NCAA Division III ranks to Division II. Since moving to Division II in 2000, UC San Diego has been ranked among the top seven programs in the country on 11 different occasions in the annual Learfield Directors' Cup standings. In 2004 and again in 2007, UCSD was the national runner up. In 2016, the school placed third in the country.

UC San Diego has also won six California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Commissioners' Cup titles, an award that recognizes the best overall athletics program in the prestigious conference.

Additionally, UCSD has been ranked first among all Division II institutions in the last eight National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) Collegiate Power Rankings, which comprehensively measure student-athlete graduation rates, academic strength and athletic prowess. Edwards has also enhanced or built new facilities during his tenure which includes a new Softball field, Baseball clubhouse and stadium, a new Athletic Performance Center.

Edwards has served on many national and regional committees and organizations throughout his career, including the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Division II Board of Directors and the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) Board of Directors. Edwards is also an ex-officio board member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) and has served as the organization's president. In addition, he is a member of the CCAA's Executive Council.

Edwards was on NACDA's Executive Committee from 2003-07 and has been part of the Division II Management Council, the Division II Championships and Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee, the Walter Byers Scholarship Committee and the Committee for Women’s Athletics.

In 2007, Edwards was named the West Region Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA, and in 2016-2017 Edwards was named the NACDA Under Armour Division II Director of the Year.