Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
Wetherbee, Scott
Scott Wetherbee
- Title:
- Vice President/Director of Athletics
- Email:
- Phone:
- 734.487.1050
Scott Wetherbee, the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan University, has redefined what progress looks like in collegiate athletics. Since taking the reins in 2017, his tenure has been marked by a consistent and ambitious vision: to elevate EMU Athletics competitively, academically, and culturally. Under his leadership, the Eagles have soared to new heights, capturing 20 Mid-American Conference (MAC) team championships and 139 individual MAC titles. Eastern Michigan has now amassed 159 MAC team titles since 1973, the most of any school in the league over that span. This sustained excellence has been complemented by an impressive 452 All-MAC honorees and 1,127 Academic All-MAC recipients under Wetherbee’s direction, underscoring the holistic development of EMU student-athletes.
The 2024–25 academic year exemplified the peak of this success. EMU student-athletes collected 52 MAC Player/Athlete of the Week awards across numerous sports, earned 25 First Team All-MAC and 35 Second Team selections, and brought home marquee accolades including MAC Attacker and Goalkeeper of the Year (Lacrosse), Freshman of the Year (Swim & Dive), and Most Valuable Performer (Women’s Track & Field). Teams like lacrosse secured a share of the MAC regular-season title in just their second year, while track & field athletes captured 14 individual or relay MAC titles. Historic moments also defined the year, such as women’s golfer Savannah de Bock becoming the program’s first NCAA Regional qualifier. Meanwhile, academics soared with EMU student-athletes posting a department-best 3.472 cumulative GPA following the Winter 2025 semester—marking the 31st consecutive term above a 3.0. Over 83% of student-athletes achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher, while 86 earned perfect 4.0s. All 19 varsity teams surpassed the 3.0 benchmark, with women’s soccer (3.862), lacrosse, volleyball, and gymnastics leading the way. The department also celebrated 135 Academic All-MAC honors and 47 CSC Academic All-District selections.
Wetherbee has invested in more than just scoreboards and stat sheets. Facility revitalization has been a pillar of his strategy. The opening of the Incarnati Athletic Center in 2019 marked EMU’s first major athletics facility expansion since 1998. Since then, Eastern has added new turf at the soccer/lacrosse complex, upgraded locker rooms for swimming & diving, and created an expanded erg room for rowing. These upgrades have been fueled by more than $35 million in fundraising, including an \$8 million lead gift for the GameAbove Golf Performance Center—the largest in school history. Additionally, EMU secured a $2.7 million contribution to rename the Convocation Center in honor of NBA legend George Gervin and received the university’s largest-ever sponsorship, totaling $1 million. The generosity and momentum don’t stop there: EMU has now received 11 gifts of $1 million or more under Wetherbee’s leadership.
His commitment to growing women’s sports has been equally transformative. He successfully launched women’s lacrosse in 2022–23 as EMU’s 19th varsity sport, and the team reached the MAC Tournament by their second season. The addition of lightweight rowing for the 2026-27 campaign marks the 20th varsity sport and continued a commitment to expanding athletic opportunities. Wetherbee has appointed 14 head coaches since his arrival, making key hires in high-profile sports such as women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s basketball, gymnastics, swimming, and baseball. Recent additions include leaders for women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, and lacrosse, while long-standing coaches like Sue Parks have been realigned into specialized roles to maximize program success.
On a national scale, Wetherbee is a respected leader, currently serving on the NCAA Division I Volleyball Committee after previously contributing to the Division I Baseball Committee. Within the MAC, he chairs several committees, including the MAC Athletics Directors group, Volleyball Coaches, and Basketball Game Management committees. His leadership has not only built a winning culture but a more inclusive one. In 2023–24, EMU received its first-ever 1-MAC Institution Award for excellence in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The award recognized EMU’s leadership in hosting inclusive events and mentorship programs. Over 6,400 community service hours were logged by student-athletes that year, reflecting a culture of service alongside scholarship and sport.
In recent years, EMU Football has experienced unprecedented success, reaching three straight bowl games and securing its first postseason victory since 1987 by defeating San Jose State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The 2023 season was a banner year, with the team recording nine wins—its most since 1987—and earning a share of the MAC West Division title. Meanwhile, the women’s indoor track & field team won the 2024 MAC Championship on home turf, and 18 individual track & field conference titles were claimed. Notably, football senior Brian Dooley earned national acclaim after giving up his scholarship for a walk-on teammate—a moment that earned him the 2023 Disney Spirit Award and captured hearts nationwide.
The 2022–23 season was similarly stellar, with both men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams claiming MAC titles and 18 individual champions crowned. EMU also joined a select group of 17 Division I institutions to have athletes drafted in the NFL, NBA, and MLB in the same year—Jose Ramirez and Sidy Sow (NFL), Emoni Bates (NBA), and Luke Russo (MLB). Academically, the department posted a then-record 3.382 cumulative GPA, with six teams earning perfect 1,000 APR scores. Community service hours reached nearly 5,700.
In 2021–22, Eastern secured MAC team titles in men’s cross country and men’s indoor track & field, along with 14 individual conference crowns. The football team made its fourth bowl appearance in six years—an astounding feat for a program that had previously been to just one bowl in school history prior to 2016. That year also brought the renaming of the Convocation Center to the George Gervin GameAbove Center through a transformational gift from GameAbove, enabling major upgrades in technology, hospitality, and student-athlete spaces.
The 2020–21 season proved Eastern’s resilience during adversity, as teams claimed MAC titles in men’s cross country, men’s indoor track & field, and gymnastics. Gymnastics qualified for NCAA Regionals for just the third time, while EMU Football appeared in back-to-back bowls for the first time. Academically, the winter semester GPA hit a record-setting 3.516, and the department opened the new Student-Athlete Performance Center—a 60,000-square-foot facility centralizing sports medicine, performance, and football operations. This came just a year after a remarkable 2018–19 campaign that included three MAC team titles, 15 individual championships, a top-five MAC all-sports finish, and a cumulative 3.270 GPA—the highest to that point.
Wetherbee’s first year at EMU (2017–18) set the tone. EMU won five team titles, earned 38 individual conference championships, and took home two of the MAC’s top institutional awards: the Cartwright Award (for combined academic, athletic, and citizenship excellence) and the Reese Trophy (top men’s athletic program). That same year, the Eagles achieved a then-record 3.259 GPA, proving Wetherbee’s vision wasn’t just rhetoric—it was results-driven from the outset.
Prior to EMU, Wetherbee built one of the most acclaimed external affairs units in the country at Mississippi State University. There, he served as Senior Associate AD and later Deputy Director, overseeing a department with a budget of $87 million. He led marketing, media relations, facilities, and licensing, and served as sport administrator for baseball and volleyball. He directed branding efforts, upgraded athletic facilities with new video boards and signage, and launched over 100 digital broadcasts annually for the SEC Network. Mississippi State’s marketing team won back-to-back NACMA Marketing Team of the Year awards under his guidance, while the media relations team earned the Football Writers Association’s Super 11 Award.
Earlier stops included 10 years at East Carolina, where he led marketing and ticket operations and was instrumental in a $60 million athletics facilities expansion. He helped set record football attendance and season ticket sales, while boosting unrestricted giving by 56%. He previously worked at San Diego State and Fresno State in ticketing roles, gaining a reputation for modernizing operations and launching new digital platforms. Wetherbee began his career as an intern at Western Michigan and as a graduate assistant at Ball State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in sport administration in 1997. He started his collegiate journey as a baseball player at Ferris State before the program was discontinued, an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to student-athletes.
Wetherbee’s personal connection to the EMU community runs deep. His daughter, Taylor, joined the Eagles as a gymnast in 2023–24, further cementing his family’s bond to a university he has helped transform. Alongside his wife, Tracy, and son, Spencer, Wetherbee has built more than a department—he’s built a culture. A culture defined by excellence, inclusion, resilience, and relentless forward momentum.
What others around the nation are saying about Scott Wetherbee being named athletic director at EMU:
University of North Carolina at Wilmington Director of Athletics Jimmy Bass
“Scott is one of the very bright young minds in intercollegiate athletics. He has an uncanny ability to work successfully with student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors and university administration. He will develop into one of the trusted leaders at Eastern Michigan.”
Mississippi State University Director of Athletics John Cohen
"Scott is so worthy of an opportunity like this. Eastern Michigan is getting one of the great young minds in athletic administration"
University of Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin
"Scott Wetherbee did an outstanding job at Mississippi State, and I know he'll do the same as Athletics Director at Eastern Michigan. His insights, preparation and ability to anticipate will serve EMU well. Plus, he's a person of character and a good family man who will put the interests of student-athletes first. I congratulate Scott, Tracy, Taylor and Spencer and wish them the very best."
Eastern Michigan University Athletic Directors Through the Years
Wilbur Bowen - 1903-28
Joseph McCulloch 1931-47
Elton Rynearson 1948-63
Dr. Keith Bowen - 1963-66
F.L. "Frosty" Ferzacca - 1966-73
John C. Fountain (Interim) - 1974
Dr. Albert E. Smith - 1975-76
Alex Agase - 1977-82
Paul Shoults - 1982-86
Gene Smith - 1986-93
Tim Weiser - 1993-97
Carole Huston (Interim) 1997-99
Dr. David Diles - 1999-05
Bob England (Interim) - 2005-06
Dr. Derrick Gragg - 2006-13
Dr. Melody Reifel Werner (Interim) - 2013
Heather Lyke - 2013-17
Christian Spears (Interim) - March-May 2017
Erin Kido (Interim) - May-July 2017
Scott Wetherbee - July 2017-Present
The 2024–25 academic year exemplified the peak of this success. EMU student-athletes collected 52 MAC Player/Athlete of the Week awards across numerous sports, earned 25 First Team All-MAC and 35 Second Team selections, and brought home marquee accolades including MAC Attacker and Goalkeeper of the Year (Lacrosse), Freshman of the Year (Swim & Dive), and Most Valuable Performer (Women’s Track & Field). Teams like lacrosse secured a share of the MAC regular-season title in just their second year, while track & field athletes captured 14 individual or relay MAC titles. Historic moments also defined the year, such as women’s golfer Savannah de Bock becoming the program’s first NCAA Regional qualifier. Meanwhile, academics soared with EMU student-athletes posting a department-best 3.472 cumulative GPA following the Winter 2025 semester—marking the 31st consecutive term above a 3.0. Over 83% of student-athletes achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher, while 86 earned perfect 4.0s. All 19 varsity teams surpassed the 3.0 benchmark, with women’s soccer (3.862), lacrosse, volleyball, and gymnastics leading the way. The department also celebrated 135 Academic All-MAC honors and 47 CSC Academic All-District selections.
Wetherbee has invested in more than just scoreboards and stat sheets. Facility revitalization has been a pillar of his strategy. The opening of the Incarnati Athletic Center in 2019 marked EMU’s first major athletics facility expansion since 1998. Since then, Eastern has added new turf at the soccer/lacrosse complex, upgraded locker rooms for swimming & diving, and created an expanded erg room for rowing. These upgrades have been fueled by more than $35 million in fundraising, including an \$8 million lead gift for the GameAbove Golf Performance Center—the largest in school history. Additionally, EMU secured a $2.7 million contribution to rename the Convocation Center in honor of NBA legend George Gervin and received the university’s largest-ever sponsorship, totaling $1 million. The generosity and momentum don’t stop there: EMU has now received 11 gifts of $1 million or more under Wetherbee’s leadership.
His commitment to growing women’s sports has been equally transformative. He successfully launched women’s lacrosse in 2022–23 as EMU’s 19th varsity sport, and the team reached the MAC Tournament by their second season. The addition of lightweight rowing for the 2026-27 campaign marks the 20th varsity sport and continued a commitment to expanding athletic opportunities. Wetherbee has appointed 14 head coaches since his arrival, making key hires in high-profile sports such as women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s basketball, gymnastics, swimming, and baseball. Recent additions include leaders for women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, and lacrosse, while long-standing coaches like Sue Parks have been realigned into specialized roles to maximize program success.
On a national scale, Wetherbee is a respected leader, currently serving on the NCAA Division I Volleyball Committee after previously contributing to the Division I Baseball Committee. Within the MAC, he chairs several committees, including the MAC Athletics Directors group, Volleyball Coaches, and Basketball Game Management committees. His leadership has not only built a winning culture but a more inclusive one. In 2023–24, EMU received its first-ever 1-MAC Institution Award for excellence in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The award recognized EMU’s leadership in hosting inclusive events and mentorship programs. Over 6,400 community service hours were logged by student-athletes that year, reflecting a culture of service alongside scholarship and sport.
In recent years, EMU Football has experienced unprecedented success, reaching three straight bowl games and securing its first postseason victory since 1987 by defeating San Jose State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The 2023 season was a banner year, with the team recording nine wins—its most since 1987—and earning a share of the MAC West Division title. Meanwhile, the women’s indoor track & field team won the 2024 MAC Championship on home turf, and 18 individual track & field conference titles were claimed. Notably, football senior Brian Dooley earned national acclaim after giving up his scholarship for a walk-on teammate—a moment that earned him the 2023 Disney Spirit Award and captured hearts nationwide.
The 2022–23 season was similarly stellar, with both men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams claiming MAC titles and 18 individual champions crowned. EMU also joined a select group of 17 Division I institutions to have athletes drafted in the NFL, NBA, and MLB in the same year—Jose Ramirez and Sidy Sow (NFL), Emoni Bates (NBA), and Luke Russo (MLB). Academically, the department posted a then-record 3.382 cumulative GPA, with six teams earning perfect 1,000 APR scores. Community service hours reached nearly 5,700.
In 2021–22, Eastern secured MAC team titles in men’s cross country and men’s indoor track & field, along with 14 individual conference crowns. The football team made its fourth bowl appearance in six years—an astounding feat for a program that had previously been to just one bowl in school history prior to 2016. That year also brought the renaming of the Convocation Center to the George Gervin GameAbove Center through a transformational gift from GameAbove, enabling major upgrades in technology, hospitality, and student-athlete spaces.
The 2020–21 season proved Eastern’s resilience during adversity, as teams claimed MAC titles in men’s cross country, men’s indoor track & field, and gymnastics. Gymnastics qualified for NCAA Regionals for just the third time, while EMU Football appeared in back-to-back bowls for the first time. Academically, the winter semester GPA hit a record-setting 3.516, and the department opened the new Student-Athlete Performance Center—a 60,000-square-foot facility centralizing sports medicine, performance, and football operations. This came just a year after a remarkable 2018–19 campaign that included three MAC team titles, 15 individual championships, a top-five MAC all-sports finish, and a cumulative 3.270 GPA—the highest to that point.
Wetherbee’s first year at EMU (2017–18) set the tone. EMU won five team titles, earned 38 individual conference championships, and took home two of the MAC’s top institutional awards: the Cartwright Award (for combined academic, athletic, and citizenship excellence) and the Reese Trophy (top men’s athletic program). That same year, the Eagles achieved a then-record 3.259 GPA, proving Wetherbee’s vision wasn’t just rhetoric—it was results-driven from the outset.
Prior to EMU, Wetherbee built one of the most acclaimed external affairs units in the country at Mississippi State University. There, he served as Senior Associate AD and later Deputy Director, overseeing a department with a budget of $87 million. He led marketing, media relations, facilities, and licensing, and served as sport administrator for baseball and volleyball. He directed branding efforts, upgraded athletic facilities with new video boards and signage, and launched over 100 digital broadcasts annually for the SEC Network. Mississippi State’s marketing team won back-to-back NACMA Marketing Team of the Year awards under his guidance, while the media relations team earned the Football Writers Association’s Super 11 Award.
Earlier stops included 10 years at East Carolina, where he led marketing and ticket operations and was instrumental in a $60 million athletics facilities expansion. He helped set record football attendance and season ticket sales, while boosting unrestricted giving by 56%. He previously worked at San Diego State and Fresno State in ticketing roles, gaining a reputation for modernizing operations and launching new digital platforms. Wetherbee began his career as an intern at Western Michigan and as a graduate assistant at Ball State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in sport administration in 1997. He started his collegiate journey as a baseball player at Ferris State before the program was discontinued, an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to student-athletes.
Wetherbee’s personal connection to the EMU community runs deep. His daughter, Taylor, joined the Eagles as a gymnast in 2023–24, further cementing his family’s bond to a university he has helped transform. Alongside his wife, Tracy, and son, Spencer, Wetherbee has built more than a department—he’s built a culture. A culture defined by excellence, inclusion, resilience, and relentless forward momentum.
What others around the nation are saying about Scott Wetherbee being named athletic director at EMU:
University of North Carolina at Wilmington Director of Athletics Jimmy Bass
“Scott is one of the very bright young minds in intercollegiate athletics. He has an uncanny ability to work successfully with student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors and university administration. He will develop into one of the trusted leaders at Eastern Michigan.”
Mississippi State University Director of Athletics John Cohen
"Scott is so worthy of an opportunity like this. Eastern Michigan is getting one of the great young minds in athletic administration"
University of Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin
"Scott Wetherbee did an outstanding job at Mississippi State, and I know he'll do the same as Athletics Director at Eastern Michigan. His insights, preparation and ability to anticipate will serve EMU well. Plus, he's a person of character and a good family man who will put the interests of student-athletes first. I congratulate Scott, Tracy, Taylor and Spencer and wish them the very best."
| The Scott Wetherbee File | ||
| Name: | Scott Wetherbee | |
| Hometown | Kalamazoo, Mich. | |
| College: | Ball State University - bachelor's degree in sports administration - 1997 | |
| Family: | Wife - Tracy; Children - Taylor and Spencer; | |
| Professional Experience | ||
| Year | School/Company | Position |
| 2017-Present | Eastern Michigan | Vice President/Director of Athletics |
| June 2017 | Mississippi State | Deputy Director of Athletics |
| 2013-17 | Mississippi State | Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs |
| Oct-Nov. 2016 | Mississippi State | Interim Director of Athletics |
| 2006-13 | East Carolina | Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing & Ticket Operations |
| 2003-06 | East Carolina | Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations |
| 2002-03 | San Diego State | Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations |
| 2000-02 | Fresno State | Athletic Ticket Manager |
| 1999-2000 | Fresno State | Assistant Athletic Ticket Manager |
| 1997-99 | Ball State | Graduate Assistant |
| 1997 | Western Michigan | Ticket Office Intern |
Eastern Michigan University Athletic Directors Through the Years
Wilbur Bowen - 1903-28
Joseph McCulloch 1931-47
Elton Rynearson 1948-63
Dr. Keith Bowen - 1963-66
F.L. "Frosty" Ferzacca - 1966-73
John C. Fountain (Interim) - 1974
Dr. Albert E. Smith - 1975-76
Alex Agase - 1977-82
Paul Shoults - 1982-86
Gene Smith - 1986-93
Tim Weiser - 1993-97
Carole Huston (Interim) 1997-99
Dr. David Diles - 1999-05
Bob England (Interim) - 2005-06
Dr. Derrick Gragg - 2006-13
Dr. Melody Reifel Werner (Interim) - 2013
Heather Lyke - 2013-17
Christian Spears (Interim) - March-May 2017
Erin Kido (Interim) - May-July 2017
Scott Wetherbee - July 2017-Present
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