Nikki Ayers
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- Title:
- Director of Athletics
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- Phone:
- 814-641-3507
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- Email:
- ayersn@juniata.edu
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- Alma Mater:
- Juniata '06
Nikki Ayers is in her second year as the Director of Athletics at Juniata.
Ayers returns to Huntingdon after spending the past six years at Claremont McKenna College, where she was most recently the Associate AD/SWA, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and in charge of human resources for athletics. She held previous titles within the CMS athletic department, including Assistant AD for Administration and Compliance, Assistant Director of Events and Operations for Roberts Pavilion, and was also an assistant women's soccer coach.
Ayers is also heavily involved in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIA), and Women Leaders in College Sports. She was also recently selected for the NCAA Pathway Program, which is a rigorous leadership development opportunity to help senior-level administrators prepare for the role of director of athletics or conference commissioner.
Prior to her time at CMS, she worked at Juniata for the first time in the role of assistant women's soccer coach, where she coached under then head coach and current Associate Athletic Director Scott McKenzie. She also made stops at Knox College and Grinnell College. She was the head coach at Knox for four seasons and also oversaw intramural sports and the fitness center.
Ayers is the most decorated soccer player in Juniata's history. In 2018, she was the first soccer player to be inducted into the college's Hall of Fame. This was after a career that saw her make the Middle Atlantic Conference all-conference team four straight years and win the Charles Bargerstock Award, which is presented to the senior female athlete who has made the greatest contribution to Juniata Athletics. She still is the all-time leader in school history in points, goals, and assists. She also holds the single-season record for assists.
Ayers graduated from Juniata in 2006 with a POE in Sports Management and earned her master's in leadership from Duquesne University in 2012. She will be joined by her husband, Jake, and her children, Kennedy and Ben.
