Walsh University has named Christina Paone, a 2006 alumna, as the Vice President for Athletics and Athletic Director, effective immediately. Paone has served as Interim Vice President and Athletic Director since December 2023.
Under her guidance, Walsh successfully established Men’s and Women’s rugby programs, welcoming scholar-athletes from the former Notre Dame College and further expanding the University’s commitment to excellence in intercollegiate sports. Additionally, Paone was on the leadership team who worked to expand the partnership with Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Sports Medicine, providing additional support for Walsh’s athletic programs.
“We are excited to officially appoint Christina as Vice President for Athletics and Athletic Director,” said Walsh University President Tim Collins. “She has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, a commitment to scholar-athletes, and the ability to drive the athletics program forward. Christina is well-positioned to lead Walsh Athletics as we continue to grow and enhance our sports offerings.”
As Vice President and Athletic Director, Paone oversees Walsh’s 27 intercollegiate sports, managing coaching staff, budgets, compliance with Title IX, and athletic facilities. She is also responsible for game operations, fundraising, media and athletic communications, sports medicine, and strength and conditioning.
Paone has been an integral part of Walsh University since 2011, initially joining as Head Coach for Women’s golf and later expanding her role to oversee both Men’s and Women’s golf programs. Her teams have achieved notable successes, including the Women’s program’s first team appearance at the NCAA Regional Championships and many individual NCAA Super Regional appearances for the Men’s and Women’s programs.
In addition to her leadership role, Paone has been active within the broader athletics community, having served on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee for Men’s golf and overseeing the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) on campus. Paone currently serves on the NCAA DII Championships Committee, the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee for Women’s golf and the Branding Committee for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. She is also a Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics.
A proud alumna, Paone earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Walsh University in 2006. As a scholar-athlete, she competed on Walsh’s first intercollegiate golf team, which advanced to the NAIA National Championships.
Walsh University is excited to continue benefiting from Paone’s leadership as she builds on her legacy and drives the future of Walsh Athletics to new heights.
