Staff Report
Northern Kentucky University of Wednesday announced Vice President and Director of Athletics Christina Roybal will not seek a contract extension, opting to pursue “other opportunities.” Roybal has led NKU Athletics since 2022.
“Christina has achieved what she came to accomplish and will complete her service at NKU on May 30,” NKU President Cady Short-Thompson said in a statement announcing Roybal’s decision. “Please join me in congratulating her on her success and thanking her for her service to NKU as our AD.”
Roybal led NKU Atletics through a time of significant change in Division I athletics. She oversaw departmental change, growth, and innovation, as well as the hiring of a number of new coaches and staff.
During her tenure, men’s basketball, softball, and baseball won Horizon League Tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The softball and baseball championships were the first in NKU’s program history.
Most recently, women’s volleyball earned the Horizon League regular-season championship. Under Roybal, NKU student-athletes achieved school-record departmental GPAs and a record-high graduation success rate of 92%, continuing NKU’s history of academic success and student commitment in the classroom.
NKU Athletics also earned multiple marketing awards from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators during her tenure. Most notably, Christina expanded athletic opportunities, including adding six new programs — men’s volleyball, stunt, men’s and women’s swimming, and men’s and women’s triathlon.
With Roybal’s planned departure, NKY will begin the search for our next Athletic Director. Vice President Chris Calvert will chair an expedited search with a representative committee.
With the support of the NKU Foundation, NKU plans to engage a search firm with expertise in recruiting athletics leadership.
“With the many strengths at NKU and in NKU Athletics, I am confident that we will be fortunate to find and hire another excellent vice president and director of athletics to usher in the next era.,” said Short-Thompson. “We are focused on an exciting future for NKU Athletics and continuing our tradition of excellence in competition and in the classroom.”