EAST STROUDSBURG – Joshua M. Looney, formerly Associate Director of Division II for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), has been named Director of Athletics at East Stroudsburg University.

Looney, who has worked at the NCAA for the last four years, has been a member of the Division II leadership team responsible for the overarching support that DII institutions receive from the national office.

"We are very excited to welcome Josh Looney to East Stroudsburg University as our Director of Athletics," said ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. "His experience in a significant and high-profile position with the NCAA, advocacy for its student-athletes, and passion and vision for intercollegiate athletics, specifically at the Division II level, made him an ideal fit to lead our 20 varsity sports."

"Our family is thrilled to be joining the ESU community," Looney said. "President Welsh and Dr. Tobin have a tremendous vision for ESU's future and it is energizing to become a partner in growing Warriors Athletics. I am grateful to everyone who played a role in the search process and am truly humbled for the opportunity to be part of this team of outstanding coaches and student-athletes."

"Josh Looney's expertise in shaping the national identity of Division II as a level at which student-athletes can thrive both academically and athletically will be a tremendous asset for ESU," said Doreen Tobin, Ed.D., Vice President of Student Affairs. "We look forward to his leadership as we continue to strive to provide an outstanding collegiate experience for our student-athletes."

A former NCAA Division II student-athlete as a four-year letterwinner in football at Washburn (Kan.), Looney has earned his MBA with emphasis in Organizational Leadership from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and is in the process of completing his doctorate (Interdisciplinary Ed.D. Program in Leadership) from Creighton University.

Looney graduated from Washburn with a bachelor's in Finance and Management. He was an NCAA Draddy Award semifinalist (NCAA's academic Heisman Trophy) and a Capitol Federal Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Award recipient. He was recognized by Washburn as a 2015 GOLD (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award Winner.

As a member of the NCAA's DII leadership team, Looney implemented the strategic priorities of the DII Presidents Council, including national identity, positioning and policy efforts to fulfill the mission and philosophy of the division.

His work included managing on and off-campus external affairs from the NCAA's home base in Indianapolis, specifically with key DII supporters, alumni, conference commissioners, athletic administrators, presidents and student-athletes.

He provided guidance and insight to the Vice President of Division II and the Planning and Finance Committee with the division's $40 million annual budget. He also provided oversight and was the lead negotiator of DII's new media contracts with CBS Sports Network, Turner Sports, ESPN and The American Sports Network.

Three of Looney's primary initiatives involved branding and identity for the newly-launched "Make It Yours" campaign, ensuring that DII student-athletes are represented in governance and voting through the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and leading campus outreach initiatives that saw him visit nearly 100 DII campuses. In addition, he enhanced national SAAC's relationship and the Make-A-Wish Foundation resulting in more than $1 million in donations over the last two years.

Prior to his position with the NCAA, Looney worked in professional sports for the Orlando Magic of the NBA, and the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL.

He began his professional career with the Orlando Magic in 2005-06 as publicity assistant for former general manager and current senior vice president Pat Williams, assisting with research, scheduling and interviews, coordinating community events and handling multiple projects within the organization.

He worked for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 through 2012, first as a public relations manager from 2006-08 and then as external outreach and public affairs spokesman from 2008-12. He developed and implemented communications strategy for the franchise, valued at $1.1 billion by Forbes, and coordinated all aspects of marketing, media and public relations through the team's digital outlets.

In his latter position with the Chiefs, Looney helped develop the organization's global communications strategy, both football and business-oriented, alongside Chiefs executives. He also co-hosted the Emmy Award-winning "Chiefs Insider" pre-game television show, executed sponsor and fundraising events and programming, and led online and social communications through KCChiefs.com.

Professionally, Looney is a member of NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics). He also has experience as a youth baseball and basketball coach in Kansas City and Indianapolis.

A native of Germantown, Tenn., Looney married the former Jenna Beahm in 2010. The couple is expecting to welcome a daughter, Parker, before the end of 2015.