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Alumnus Barney Hinkle named new Skyhawks Director of Athletics
Fort Lewis College President Dene Thomas announced today that Barney Hinkle has been chosen to lead the athletic department as the Director of Athletics. Hinkle replaces Gary Hunter who resigned in May.
"I am excited to welcome back one of our own – an alumnus and a member of the Fort Lewis College Foundation – who has a passion for FLC," said Dr. Thomas. "Barney's business background makes him an excellent choice for Skyhawk Athletics at this time."
Thomas also announced that Lynne Andrew has been elevated to Senior Associate Director of Athletics. A nine-year veteran of the athletic department, Andrew also serves as the Senior Woman Administrator. Andrew, who has held the role as the Skyhawks compliance officer and budget officer, will continue to focus on the operations side of Skyhawk Athletics. Compliance will be handled by a new compliance officer to be hired in the near future.
"It is my sincere honor to return to my alma mater where I join a talented team of athletic and academic professionals," said Hinkle. "I am thrilled at this opportunity and I greatly appreciate Dene Thomas' confidence in my ability to take the Skyhawks athletic program to new heights."
Hinkle is an accomplished sports and entertainment marketing professional with more than 25 years of extensive experience. His robust career includes 22 years with Anheuser-Busch Sports/ Entertainment Marketing in St Louis, Mo., as well as three years at the PGA TOUR in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. In his time at Anheuser-Busch, Hinkle oversaw their brands' sports and entertainment sponsorship portfolio for a variety of key properties including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA, Action Sports and the Olympics as well as musical artists Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Buffett.
A Fort Lewis College Hall of Fame inductee and All-Century team member, Hinkle scored 1,522 points during his four-year basketball career from 1977 to 1981 to become Fort Lewis College's all-time men's basketball scoring leader at the time of his induction in 1996. He was named Fort Lewis College's Most Valuable Player as a junior and went on to play basketball in Australia after playing for FLC.
He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College in 1982, and later earned a master's degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts in 1985.
Hinkle will begin his role as athletic director on Sept. 1.