University of Evansville extends contract for athletic director
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The University of Evansville has extended the contract of athletic director Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried through 2030, saying the 2022 hire has improved the success of the school’s athletes on the field and in the classroom.
Siegfried’s tenure has been marked by higher GPAs among student-athletes, increased philanthropic support, larger ticket revenue, capital improvement projects and standout performances among many of UE’s teams, the university said.
“Dr. Siegfried’s leadership has transformed our athletics department and energized both our campus and the wider Evansville community,” UE President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz said in a news release. “I am confident in the direction he is leading us, one that prioritizes competitive excellence, elevates the student-athlete experience, and positions our athletics programs for bold, strategic growth that reflects the spirit and ambition of our entire University.”
The University of Evansville, a private university, did not disclose the terms of the contract extension in the news release.
IRS records the nonprofit university filed last year indicate that Siegfried’s compensation was just short of $260,000 in 2023.
Among the athletic department’s accomplishments under Siegfried’s leadership, according to the release:
- UE student-athletes achieved the first and second highest cumulative GPAs in the history of the athletics department.
- Siegfried spearheaded the development of a comprehensive athletics facilities master plan that has completed or is in the process of completing $7.6 million in projects, including a $4.5 million baseball clubhouse, a $1.1 million turf softball field, and a $1.2 million intramural and soccer practice field complex.
- Philanthropic support has surged, including what is believed to be the largest gift in UE athletics history, $3 million, from UE alums Kyle and Ashley Freeland for the baseball clubhouse.
- The baseball team last summer captured the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship, earned its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006, won its NCAA Regional and advanced to the Super Regional for the first time in program history.
- The men’s soccer team won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 1996.
- The men’s basketball team in only the second year of head coach David Ragland more than tripled its win total from the prior season and secured its first postseason berth in nearly a decade.
- UE recorded its highest total ticket revenue in the past decade across its 17 Division I sports.
“I’m incredibly thankful to President Pietruszkiewicz, our board of trustees, and the entire University of Evansville community for their continued belief in our vision,” Siegfried said. “It’s been an honor to work alongside such dedicated student-athletes, coaches, and staff. I’m excited to keep building on our momentum and creating an athletics program that reflects the values and excellence of this institution.”