Athletic Director
Vice President of Campus Life:
Kenneth oliver
During his tenure as Central Methodist University's athletic director,
Kenneth Oliver has made a big impact on Eagle Athletics. He led the
“Campaign for Eagle Athletics” a $5.2 million enhancement project to
improve all of the CMU athletic facilities. He has increased athletic
scholarships; created the Champions of Character Council and hired a
Champions of Character coach; implemented a Drug Education, Prevention
and Testing Program; hired a full-time sports information director;
hired a full-time certified strength and conditioning coach; reinstated
the men’s and women’s golf programs (fall 2009); increased the number of
coaches in each of the athletic programs; and increased the marketing
efforts for Eagle Athletics.
In addition, he led the CMU Athletic Department to its first-ever Heart
of America Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Trophy in 2007-08. Every
athletic program finished higher in the conference in 2007-08 than in
the previous year and during the 2008-09 year 10 out of 15 athletic
programs finish in the top half of the conference, seven finished in the
top 3 in the conference. In addition, the overall grade-point averages
of both the men and women athletes have increased each of the last three
years. This past spring, Oliver was elected to serve on the National
Administrative Council of the National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA).
Oliver began his professional tenure at CMU in January 1999, when he
accepted the position of recruiting coordinator, assistant
football/track coach and instructor of physical education. Through his
tenure at CMU, Oliver has been honored for his work ethic and loyalty to
Central. From 2001-06 he 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 retention and
enrollment efforts helped CMU have the largest enrollment in school
history for the past two years.
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 one of the best defenses in 2004. That defensive
unit had four All-Americans, led the nation in interceptions (33),
takeaways (49), and turnover margin (+2.5 a game), was fourth in the
nation for punt returns (14.6 yards per return) and set numerous school
records. Oliver’s 1999 special team unit led the nation in kickoff
return average, set the NAIA return yardage record, and produced an NAIA
All-American. His offensive unit scored more than 50 points twice (61
and 52) during the 2000 season. His 2000 and 2002 women’s golf teams
finish fifth in the NAIA region V, which is the best in CMU history.
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/recruiting coordinator and assistant softball coach, and at
Northwest Missouri State University, where he was the running backs
coach.
At CMU Oliver has developed one of the most successful summer football
camps in the state of Missouri. Oliver started the football camp in June
2000 and has seen the camp grow in numbers every summer.
Oliver is a 1993 graduate of CMC (now CMU) where he lettered in football
and track. He holds a B.A. in communication and theatre and a B.S. in
physical education and health. Oliver also holds an M.S. Ed. in
administration and wellness from Northwest Missouri State University. He
and his wife, Michelle, reside in Boonville with their son, Brady.
