SEATTLE, Washington – Dr. Charles Small has joined the University of Washington Athletic Department as senior associate athletic director for athletic administration, Director of Athletics Pat Chun announced today.
Small comes to UW after two years as athletic director. During his tenure, Valpo teams captured the first Missouri Valley Conference regular season and conference tournament championships in any sport.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Small and his family to Montlake,” Chun said. “Charles is a well-respected athletic administrator in our industry. He will bring to our UW athletic team a background that includes serving as an athletic director, senior administrator at Power 4 institutions and as a former student-athlete himself.”
At Valparaiso, Small influenced major facility projects, supported key strategic initiatives for the student-athlete and fan experience, and hired a men’s basketball coach as part of his program oversight of the men’s and women’s basketball programs.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join an incredible and prestigious academic and athletic institution such as the University of Washington,” Small said. “This is a critical time in college sports and I am honored to work with an exceptional group of administrators and coaches to support our student-athletes.”
Prior to Valpo, Small spent four years at Iowa State University, where he served as athletic administrator for men’s basketball and wrestling while also managing sports medicine, compliance, strength and conditioning, academic support services and alumni-athlete relations.
Additionally, Small led the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s strategic action plan and was named ISU’s interim vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in fall 2021.
Prior to ISU, Small worked at the University of Arkansas, where he most recently served for four years as the assistant athletic director for academic services while also serving as the campus’s deputy Title IX coordinator.
Previously, Small worked at the University of New Orleans (2013-2014) as the assistant athletic director for student-athlete development. While in New Orleans, Small was responsible for academic support and life skills acquisition and was the athletic administrator for men’s and women’s athletics.
Small began his career in collegiate sports at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, working for seven years in a variety of roles including academic advising, life skills, student life and compliance.
Small earned three degrees from Pittsburgh, including a Doctor of Education, a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. He was also a four-year member of the men’s basketball program, where he won two Big East championships, appeared in four NCAA tournaments and made the Sweet Sixteen twice.
Small is also a graduate of the prestigious NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute.
Small and his wife Celeste have two sons, Dominic and Aiden.
About Washington Athletics
Washington athletic teams have won 56 national team championships in 11 different sports, from the first titles in 1923 in men’s rowing and women’s rifle shooting to the most recent national championship, also in men’s rowing, in 2024. Washington athletics traditions include 320 Olympic and Paralympic competitors, the creation of “The Wave” in the third quarter of a 1981 football game, the well-known nickname “Huskies” in 1922, and the legendary “Sailgating” activities and the sweeping views of what is known as “The Greatest Setting” in college football.
