Athletic Director
Vice President of Campus Life
Dean of Students & Enrollment
Kenneth Oliver
Contact Information:
Office: Student & Community Center
Phone: 887-268-1854 ext 58224
660-248-6224
Fax: 660-248-1632
Email:
koliver@centralmethodist.edu
In fewer than three years Kenneth Oliver has made an impact on Eagle
athletics. He led the way for the “Campaign for Eagle Athletics” (a
project to improve all of the CMU athletic facilities), he has increased
the athletic scholarships, created the Champions of Character Players
Council, hired a Champions of Character coach, implemented a drug
education, prevention and testing program, hired a full-time sports
information director, and increased the number of coaches in each of the
athletic programs along with increasing the marketing efforts for Eagle
athletics.
Oliver began his professional tenure at CMU in January 1999 when he
accepted the position of recruiting coordinator/assistant for
football/track and instructor of physical education. Through his tenure
at CMU, Oliver has been honored for his work ethic and loyalty to
Central. From 2001-2006, Ken held the position of Dean of Students while
still coaching for the Eagle football team. On July 1, 2005, Oliver was
promoted to Vice-President of Campus Life with direct responsibility for
admissions/enrollment, student affairs, and athletics. In addition to
being the Vice-President of Campus Life/Dean of Students, Oliver also
holds the position of Athletic Director. His leadership in the retention
and enrollment efforts have helped CMU have the largest enrollment in 40
years this fall.
During Oliver’s coaching career at Central, he has coached five
different football All-Americans and seven Academic All-Americans. His
football special teams and defensive
units hold a number of CMU and NAIA records. His 2004 defensive unit is
one of the best in CMU history and was nationally rated as of the best
defenses in 2004. That defensive unit had four All-Americans that led
the nation in interceptions (33), take aways (49), turn over margin
(+2.5 a games) and was fourth in the nation for punt returns (14.6 yards
per return), and set numerous school records. Oliver’s 1999 special team
unit lead the nation in kickoff return average and set the NAIA return
yardage record and also produced an NAIA All-American. His offensive
unit scored more than 50 points twice (61 & 52) during the 2000 season.
His 2000 and 2002 women’s golf teams finish fifth in the NAIA region V,
the best in CMU history. During the spring of 1999 Oliver helped coach a
number of successful track athletes.
Before coming to CMU, Oliver was the assistant head football
coach/defensive coordinator, head track coach, and director of
student-athlete retention at William Penn University. Oliver also
coached at Fort Scott Community College, where he was the co-defensive
and recruiting coordinator and assistant softball coach, and, at
Northwest Missouri State University, where he was coach of the running
backs.
Oliver developed one of the most successful summer football camps in the
state of Missouri. He began the camp in June 2000 and has seen the camp
grow in numbers every summer.
Oliver is a 1993 graduate of Central Methodist College (now CMU), where
he lettered in football and track. He holds a B.A. in Communication and
Theatre and a B.S.E. in Physical Education and Health. Oliver also holds
a M.S. in Education (Administration and Wellness) from Northwest
Missouri State University. He and his wife, Michelle, reside in
Boonville with their son, Brady.
