Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

Kevin Lanke enters his fourth year as Associate Vice President for Athletics at Saint Mary of the Woods College (SMWC) in the upcoming 2026-27 academic year.  Lanke oversees an NAIA athletic department featuring more than 40 part-time and full-time employees and provides leadership for all aspects of Pomeroy athletics.

Lanke's main areas of emphasis at SMWC include day-to-day operations of the NAIA athletic program; budget and personnel oversight; NAIA Return on Athletics and Equity and Disclosure in Athletics reporting; team travel; schedule oversight; ensuring a positive student-athlete experience; working with the financial aid team to oversee scholarship athletic recruitment; NAIA compliance and Upper Limits management; facility management; and working with campus advancement officers in fund raising efforts.

Over the past three years, the athletic department has transitioned from sprint to full scholarship NAIA football; added the sport of women's flag football in 2027-28; established McMahon Field as an on-campus site for football, soccer and flag football home games; added video capturing technology to each of its venues; and increased the overall student-athlete population from 350 to approximately 420 for the upcoming year.

Considered a leader by his peers, Lanke begins his first full season as the River States Conference representative to the NAIA Athletic Directors Association (ADA) in 2026-27.  The NAIA ADA is a national leadership organization that works with the national office to lead potential rules changes and navigate daily issues that arise to help determine NAIA future policies and procedures in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics.

Prior to his time at SMWC, Lanke served 25 years as the communications lead and assistant athletic director at NCAA Division III Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.  In addition to overseeing game day management, assisting with NCAA compliance activities and handling sports information operations, Lanke also served as primary media relations contact for Rose-Hulman's 11-year run hosting Indianapolis Colts Training Camp from 1999-2009.

During his time at Rose-Hulman, he was twice awarded the Rose-Hulman Excellence in Service Award in 2015 and 2017 and was recognized with the President’s Outstanding Service Award in 2016.

Lanke, a member of the Terre Haute Rotary Club and the Wabash Valley Riverscape Board, resides in Terre Haute with wife Stephanie.