Jesse Skiles has been named Glenville State College’s new Athletic Director. His new appointment will take effect July 1.
“I am excited about this opportunity and I’m looking forward to working not only with our great coaches and student athletes, but also with our alumni and supporters. Glenville is truly a special place for me with so many good people and I look forward to being a part of Pioneer Athletics in this new role,” Skiles said.
A native of Charleston, West Virginia and a DuPont High School athlete, Skiles ran track and cross country at Glenville State during his college career. The 1987 GSC graduate was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the College’s Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000, is very knowledgeable in the institution’s history of athletics, and has served on the Hall of Fame selection committee.
He coached college track and cross country for 29 years before retiring to return to his alma mater earlier this year when he accepted the Director of Athletic Fundraising position within the College Advancement Office.
As a head coach, Skiles presided over two dynasties; the Glenville teams of the late 80’s and the West Virginia Wesleyan College teams over the last 26 years. In all, his teams have won 64 conference titles and he has been named Coach of the Year 53 times.
On four separate occasions, Skiles’ teams won all four league titles in the same academic year: 1995-96, 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2014-15. His 1988 Glenville Cross Country Teams both finished Top 25 in the Nation (Men 19th; Women 25th).
“When you are working for your alma mater, there is certainly an added fire and motivation. My plan as Athletic Director is similar to what my objectives were as a head coach, both here and at Wesleyan; to challenge for championships and to do so with strong academic teams in a family atmosphere that is strongly tied to the community,” Skiles said.
“I’m pleased to have Jesse Skiles leading our Athletic Department. He’s a Glenville State graduate, brings a wealth of institutional athletic information with him, and knows how to foster a spirit of competitive excellence. What I’m most excited to see is Jesse’s future-focused vision for what Glenville Athletics can become. I have no doubt about where we’ll go and the things we’ll achieve with him at the helm,” said GSC President Dr. Tracy Pellett.
