BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Athletic Department has announced that Dave Kemmy, Director of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation, will step down from his current position on May 8 to become Director of Conferences starting May 15. Kemmy will also be assisting in the area of alumni relations within the Division of Advancement.
 
Kemmy has served as Director of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation since the 2011-12 academic year, prior to serving as Acting Athletic Director for two years.
 
"Almost every student-athlete since 2011 has experienced the omnipresence of Dave Kemmy," said John King, Vice President for Student Life. "As athletic director, his dedication, constant presence and unwavering support for RWU Athletics has enabled the program to reach new heights including national championships and NCAA Tournament success. Most importantly under his leadership, RWU student-athletes have excelled academically, through community service, and are active alumni supporters."
 
During his tenure as Athletic Director, Kemmy oversaw numerous achievements for the Roger Williams University Athletic Department. Among Kemmy's notable accomplishments for the department include the construction of the $2.3 million turf field completed in the summer of 2011, the addition of two new varsity sports (Men's Polo, Women's Polo), the elevation to varsity status of two club sports (Field Hockey, Women's Rugby), and the reinstatement of one discontinued varsity program (Men's Golf).
 
Athletically, the Department achieved new heights under Kemmy's guidance. Roger Williams has consistently ranked among the top 33% of all institutions in the Division III Learfield Directors' Cup, including a department-best ranking of 45^th place in the Fall of 2013. In addition, the department enjoyed success at the highest level, with the Sailing team winning its first-ever ICSA Team Racing National Championship in 2011 and David Welch claiming RWU's first-ever NCAA National Championship after winning the 2016 Division III 197 lbs. national title in Wrestling. Just this past weekend, the two-year old varsity Men's Polo program won the USPA National Championship
 
Under Kemmy, Roger Williams has steadily maintained its position as one of the top teams in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. RWU has won 35 CCC Championships and claimed two CCC Women's All-Sports Trophies and one CCC Men's All-Sports Trophy. RWU teams have won over 66% of their CCC matchups and over 60% of their contests overall.
 
Roger Williams teams have also been lauded for their success outside the playing field. The Athletic Department has conducted over 25,000 hours of community service by RWU student-athletes under Kemmy and has had over 450 student-athletes named to the CCC All-Academic Team, as well as 24 student-athletes earn recognition as Academic All-Americans.
 
Prior to being named Athletic Director, Kemmy spent 15 years as Roger Williams University's assistant athletic director for administration, where he coordinated all team schedules, travel and game officials, in addition to his oversight of athletic budgets. He joined RWU in 1990 as director of sports information, intramurals and recreation, and served as the first head coach of the women's soccer program for five years before becoming head coach of the wrestling team in 1994. In March 2011, Kemmy was inducted to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Rhode Island Wrestling Hall of Fame and New England Wrestling Association Hall of Fame.
 
In 2012, Kemmy ended his 18-year career as Head Coach of the RWU Wrestling team. In his first year with RWU, Kemmy was named NCAA Division III National Rookie Coach of the Year and New England Rookie Coach of the Year. His teams have claimed five Pilgrim League Championships during his time as coach, in addition to winning the 2007 New England Dual Meet Championship. Overall he guided the RWU Wrestling team to 250 wins over the course of his career, along with a .594 winning percentage.  In addition, 18 of his wrestlers were named Academic All-Americans on 31 separate occasions including four NWCA All-Americans.
 
"After 33 years in college athletics, including 27 at Roger Williams University, it is time for a new challenge," said Kemmy. "I have had the privilege of working with some outstanding colleagues in Athletics at RWU and I will surely miss working with them. There are some passionate and incredible people here who do their best for our students. We have achieved some incredible things together and I wish them the best of luck going forward. I have always been a student-centered person and I will surely miss the relationships I have developed with our student-athletes. Watching them grow and develop as young women and men, graduate and go off into the working world, where many of them have been very successful, is a very rewarding experience. I am fortunate that I will remain a Hawk and look forward to continuing to support the efforts of the University in a different role."
 
The entire Roger Williams community would like to thank Dave Kemmy for his service and dedication to Roger Williams Athletics and the University and would like to wish him all the best in his new role.