This article originally appeared on the Newman Jets Athletics site Jan. 21, 2025.
After five-and-a-half years at the helm of Newman University’s athletic department, Joanna Pryor shared Tuesday that she is resigning from her post to pursue career ventures outside of college athletics.
A mainstay in Newman Athletics for nearly two decades, Pryor remained dedicated to the experience of all Newman student-athletes. Joining the Jets as the head volleyball coach in 2009, Pryor spent two seasons leading Newman volleyball before transitioning to the administrative side in 2011.
Pryor said in a statement, “In 16 years at Newman, I have grown both personally and professionally. I am forever grateful for my time spent here, especially the last five and a half years as the director of athletics.”
Across the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Pryor went 14-12 in Heartland Conference play and compiled 25 victories overall during her tenure, and was named Heartland Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 after leading the team’s first winning conference record as a member of NCAA Division II.
The Attica, Kansas, native served as the associate athletic director and compliance coordinator from 2011-19, beginning her administrative tenure and path to the director of athletics role. Pryor played a major part in the Jet Open and Newman Athletics Hall of Fame while keeping the department compliant with NCAA Division II bylaws for nine years.
Newman University President Kathleen Jagger, Ph.D., MPH, said, “Joanna deserves credit for her efforts in leading Newman University through the process of earning full membership in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). She has well served and represented Newman and the MIAA, as the conference’s only female athletic director over the past five years.”
Pryor became the only female athletic director in the 14-school MIAA in June 2019. Under Pryor’s leadership, Newman accepted a full membership into the MIAA for 14 sports in June 2022 after the school spent three seasons as an associate member. Pryor also spearheaded the women’s bowling program’s move to NCAA Division II as an associate member in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in July 2022.
During Pryor’s time as director of athletics, Newman University saw multiple conference tournaments, national qualifiers, hundreds of postseason accolades and thousands of academic honorees. Men’s soccer made its first-ever GAC/MIAA conference tournament appearance in team history. Women’s basketball made its first-ever MIAA Tournament appearance in team history. Baseball appeared in its first-ever MIAA Tournament appearance, first postseason appearance since 2014 and earned its first win in MIAA tournament play. Women’s bowling has reached the conference finals in each of its first two seasons as NCAA DII and GLVC members.
Newman was elevated to the national stage with a handful of individual appearances including the first female to compete for an NCAA Division II National Championship when Patricia Limo ran at the 2023 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships. Pryor also played an integral part in bringing the first NCAA DII national championship to the city of Wichita when Newman University hosted the wrestling championships in March 2024 at the former Hartman Arena in Park City.
When asked what she will miss the most, Pryor stated, “I will miss the people. I love our student-athletes and there is nothing more I wanted and will continue to want for them an exceptional academic and athletic experience at Newman.”
Pryor’s fingerprints will remain on campus and the athletic department specifically. During her tenure as assistant director, Pryor hired 10 of the 14 current head coaches, added forward-thinking programs like esports and continuously championed student-athlete leadership development.
“In her time here, Joanna has been a positive force in various roles in our athletic department. Throughout her 15 (total) years at Newman, she was steadfast in supporting our student-athletes and coaches and has made a positive impact for the university and Jets athletics. I’m excited for Jo and wish her much success as she pursues a new career,” Jagger said.
Newman University will begin a nationwide search for its new director of athletics.
Jagger has named Director of Bowling & Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Advancement and Business Operations Billy Murphy as the interim director of athletics while the search for a full-time replacement has started.
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