KINGSVILLE, Texas – Texas A&M University-Kingsville Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation, D. Scott Gines Ed.D., announced his agreement to become the next Director of Athletics at Delaware State University on Thursday. DSU is a 125-year old land grant institution and an NCAA Division-I member of the Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference.
 
Gines concludes nearly 11 years at TAMUK in three administrative positions. Arriving as Director of Athletics in 2007, Gines became Vice President for Institutional Advancement in 2009 and he assumed his current leadership role in January 2013.  

"The culture, community and people of this campus, city and South Texas are very special to me," said Dr. Gines, "and I will forever cherish my time in Javelina Nation.
 
"For me, every Javelina sport is 'the' sport and we developed plans at the onset to strengthen and expand all of Javelina Athletics. We worked those plans together, hired amazing coaches and staff members, engaged our community and alumni, and now Javelina Athletics is enjoying an upward progression never previously experienced."
 
During Gines' recent tenure, Javelina Athletics posted its most successful six-year period of department-wide competitive success, totaling 28 NCAA post-season appearances, eight national top 10 finishes, four Lone Star Conference Championships, one national runner-up, two team national championships, a Division-II College World Series appearance, a Live United Bowl victory and 25 NCAA Division-II individual national champions. Javelina Athletics advanced to the semi-finals of the Division-II Award of Excellence on three occasions, more than doubled the annual number of degree recipients and finished in the top 91 of the Division-II Learfield Cup standings for a record six consecutive years.
 
Gines' developed a comprehensive gender equity plan during his tenure and launched women's golf, women's tennis and beach volleyball, nearly doubling women's student-athlete participation. Through a series of initiatives, annual operational revenues increased by over $3.6 million, Javelina football repeatedly finished in the national top 10 in average per game attendance, the department set benchmarks for Division-II community engagement and TAMUK Athletics won the bid to host the 2019 and 2020 NCAA Division-II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. Recognized for his work in athletics strategic and financial planning, Gines chaired the Lone Star Conference Expansion Committee from 2008 to 2009, led and authored the LSC Strategic Plan, served as a mentor in the NCAA Division-II/D2ADA Women and Minorities Program and he served on the NCAA's membership-wide Research and Innovations Grants Committees.
 
During this timeframe, Gines initiated $12 million in new facility construction and upgrades, increased scholarship budgets by nearly $1 million, elevated salaries, expanded staffing and raised recruiting budgets. Now a department of 15 NCAA Division-II Championship sports, Gines hired all but one current TAMUK head coach and five athletics programs are currently led by the most successful head coaches in Javelina athletics history, including recently recognized Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year, Ryan Dall.
 
"Javelina Nation and the people of Kingsville are amazing," added Dr. Gines, "and I am deeply grateful for the great opportunities afforded me during my time here.
 
"I believe a clear vision, good plans and a strong foundation of leadership are very much in place in Javelina Athletics. With Dr. [Steven H.] Tallant retiring in 2018, it is simply time for me to embrace a new challenge and opportunity, and allow Texas A&M University-Kingsville's next president to choose their leadership team."
 
Gines' last day at TAMUK will be July 17; a search for his replacement will begin immediately.
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT DR. GINES
 
"Scott's contribution to Javelina Athletics cannot be understated. He has done a terrific job managing our programs and has accomplished much during his time here. I am especially proud of the work he has done to promote gender equity in athletics and to assemble a stellar coaching staff. Under his leadership, many of our programs have been incredibly successful. I will miss Scott and wish him and his family the very best." - Dr. Steven H. Tallant, President, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
 
"Dr. Gines has cultivated a culture in Javelina Athletics where all students are both scholars and champions. Dr. Gines created a plan to ensure that our campus made great strides in gender equity for athletes and coaches. Under his leadership, we have won several conference and national championships, completed tens of millions of dollars' worth of facility improvements and expansion, and improved retention and graduation rates of our student-athletes. He will be incredibly missed and Delaware State is lucky to get such a committed professional."- Dr. Teresa Riley, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and University Administration, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
 
"When Scott joined our university more than 10 years ago, he brought the leadership and vision that we needed in Javelina Athletics. Since then, he has helped grow and develop that area and the success of our athletics programs is a testament to his ability to manage and lead. I have enjoyed working closely with him since his arrival and wish him well in his new role at Delaware State University." - J. Randy Hughes, Chief of Staff, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
 
"Scott did a tremendous job in several roles while serving the university. He worked tirelessly to improve our athletic department in countless ways and he leaves Javelina Athletics much better than how he found it. We wish him the best of luck at Delaware State." - Jason Gonzales, Head Baseball Coach, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
 
"I'm grateful for the opportunity Scott gave me almost 10 years ago to come here and lead this program as my first coaching job. I'm grateful for the work we've been able to do with this program, essentially building it up from scratch and into a national championship program, and he certainly deserves credit for that. I know we'll miss him, I know the community will miss him, and he's certainly going to be someone who will always have a special place with me." - Ryan Dall, Head Track and Field & Cross Country Coach, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
 
"I will always be very grateful for the opportunity Scott gave me to be a head coach at this tremendous university. I know he will be very successful and I wish him and Ginger success in this new challenge. Delaware State is getting a good one!" - Daren Wilkinson, Head Football Coach, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
 
"Scott has helped me grow a lot and I am grateful for that. He is a caring and supportive leader and he will be missed. I wish him and Ginger the best of luck on their new journey." - Tanya Allen, Head Volleyball & Beach Volleyball Coach, Texas A&M University-Kingsville