Changes to athletics administration

November 16, 2022

Matt Arend, associate dean for wellness, announced today he is returning to his alma mater, Western Michigan University, in a role governing student-athlete use of name, image and likeness (NIL). He will leave Albion College at the end of December to begin his new role in January.

Andy Lawrence, assistant athletics director for athletic training, has been named interim athletics director and will share administrative duties with Eric Scott, recently named associate athletics director from his role as women’s soccer coach.

“We are grateful to Matt for his 11 years of leadership and many accomplishments,” said Interim President Joe Calvaruso, ‘78. “We have already put the search for a new AD in motion and are forming a search committee. And starting Monday, the athletics director will begin serving on the President’s Cabinet.”

Arend was hired as athletics director in 2011, and since then, Albion College athletics has grown from 450 student-athletes to more than 700 and increased its varsity sports offerings from 19 to 26. During his tenure as athletics director, Arend oversaw $15 million in facility projects that improved Albion athletics. The Serra Dow Expansion Project and the construction of the Davis Athletic Complex are two of the biggest and most well-known projects.

Arend earned both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Western Michigan University.

Andy Lawrence joined the Albion College athletic department as head athletic trainer in July 2013 and was promoted to the assistant athletic director for athletic training in 2021. He graduated in 2008 from Michigan State University and received his master’s degree in athletic training from Western Michigan University in 2010.