USCAA Names Matt Simms '15 as its Newest Executive Director
Newport News, VA – Following the announcement that Bill Casto, ten year Executive Director of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, would step down in 2015, the Board of Directors have named Matt Simms as Executive Director.
Simms becomes only the third Executive Director in the association’s history, since becoming the USCAA in 2001. A native of Smithfield, VA, he joined the USCAA management staff in 2005. Simms is a graduate of Old Dominion University, where he obtained a bachelor’s in Organizational Psychology. He went on to receive his MBA from William & Mary in 2015.
Simms has served two years as Administrator of Student Services and one year as Assistant Athletic Director at member institution The Apprentice School. Under several titles with the USCAA, beginning as Assistant to the Commissioner and transitioning to Associate Director & COO, Simms has led the operations of the USCAA, bolstering marketing efforts that have led to over one-hundred percent membership growth and ten times operating capital since 2006.
Simms has been instrumental in sponsorship attainment, leading to contracts with Eastbay, Rawlings, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, as well as grants with various convention & visitors bureaus. He has also worked directly in efforts to improve the image of the USCAA including five website re-designs, the reorganization of the national office, and improved broadcasting of USCAA Championship events with partnerships for webcasting, ESPN Radio, and the addition of the USCAA Network.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to be selected as Executive Director,” states Simms. “I have expressed to our membership that this does not mark a time of overhaul for our organization. Bill Casto has done many outstanding things to grow our membership and enhance the championship experience for our student athletes over the last ten years. Instead, this marks a period for personal rejuvenation for me, and a new challenge to see the opportunities that exist for the USCAA to increase its brand recognition as an outstanding national organization for small college athletics.”
During this transition, former Executive Director Bill Casto will move into a consulting role for a newly formed USCAA Ambassador Program, set out at identifying new prospective member institutions. Additionally, Michael Goodman has been promoted as the association’s next Associate Director & Chief Operating Officer.
"The promotions of Mr. Simms and Mr. Goodman by the USCAA Board of Directors shows the utmost confidence of these two outstanding professionals,” states USCAA President Matt Richards. “Both individuals have been instrumental in the growth and professionalism of the USCAA over the past several years and as President of the Board, I feel confident that the USCAA will continue the standard of being a premier small college athletics governing body.”
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Michael Goodman is entering his fifth year with the USCAA. A graduate of Old Dominion University where he obtained his master’s degree in Sports Management, Goodman will oversee day-to-day operations of the USCAA National Office.
“I’ve always felt what makes the USCAA different is its level of service and its people,” said Goodman. “I’ve seen first-hand what Bill Casto’s leadership has done for our organization. Having worked in the office next to him for the last four years, I know our organization is in great hands with Matt Simms. My efforts will be aimed at making our National Office more focused, efficient, and productive to continue providing our membership with the level of service they expect. I’m privileged to have this opportunity and I’m ready to guide our staff and membership toward the growth and advancement of our association.”
Goodman has compiled a long list of different job functions during his time with the USCAA. Beginning as the association’s Administrator of Communications and Compliance in 2011, he developed the USCAA’s eligibility center, a platform on the USCAA website for all matters dealing with the association’s eligibility rules and guidelines. Goodman also created the USCAA’s first eligibility Case Study Handbook, assisted in the development of the USCAA Code of Conduct policy, and in 2012 oversaw the association’s transition to PrestoSports as the official statistical provider of the USCAA.
Furthermore, Goodman has led efforts to improve the layout and content of the USCAA website, improve the association’s ratings and selections processes, internal and external communication channels, and contributed to latest redesign of the USCAA’s website. He also led a project team beginning in 2012 to develop the USCAA’s standalone championship websites. The USCAA now offers six championship websites as well as a separate site for the annual USCAA National Convention.
To date, Goodman continues to serve as the USCAA’s compliance chairman, working with the membership to ensure timely and accurate reporting of USCAA eligibility documentation, and working with the USCAA’s eligibility committee to process all applicable waivers. He continues to oversee the USCAA Coaches Polls, Sport Committees, internal subcommittees, and lead development of internal marketing initiatives aimed at highlighting the USCAA’s unique mission and niche in intercollegiate athletics. Goodman is a regular at USCAA championships, where he plays an integral part in event operations.
