WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William & Mary Athletics has selected Lisa Liotta as its new Deputy Director of Athletics, a position in which she will be a member of the senior management team and will have oversight of student-athlete development, sports medicine, compliance and academic support, among other areas.
 
Liotta currently holds the same title with Canisius University in Buffalo, NY, where she has been a member of the Golden Griffins' staff since 2018.
 
"We are delighted to welcome Lisa to William & Mary where she will have a critically important position in Tribe Athletics," said Brian D. Mann.  "Lisa is a person with extensive knowledge of athletics operations at the campus, conference and NCAA levels.  Her breadth of experience will be a tremendous asset for our student-athletes and coaches, and her experience as a former coach and student-athlete is extremely beneficial."
 
"When I met with the administrative team at William & Mary, I was truly impressed by how intentionally the entire athletics department centers everything around the student-athlete experience and takes a holistic, values-driven approach to student-athlete welfare," said Liotta. "That philosophy strongly aligns with my professional background and aligns deeply with my personal values. The tradition, pride, and forward momentum of William & Mary Athletics are evident, and I am incredibly grateful to Brian Mann for the opportunity to be part of such a special place. His vision for the future of the Tribe is inspiring, and I am genuinely excited to contribute to an environment that prepares student-athletes to succeed not only in competition, but in life beyond sport."
 
At Canisius, she is the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), a role she will once again hold at William & Mary, and the sport administrator for seven varsity programs. Liotta represents Canisius as a member of the Executive Committee on the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Board of Directors and serves on various committees within the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Council of Athletic Administrators, including the current chair of the swimming and diving committee.
 
At the NCAA level, she is currently the vice chair of the NCAA Division I Membership Committee and former member of the defunct Division I Council and Strategic Vision and Planning Committee.  She is also a member of the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Oversight & Championships Committee "It is important to have representation within the national landscape and I am honored to have served in various capacities throughout my career," said Liotta. "I am 100 percent a product of the opportunities for service and personal development that the NCAA extends to student-athletes and administrators."
 
Prior to Canisius she was Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Welfare and SWA at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio.  Before that, Liotta was the Associate Athletic Director and SWA at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, where she helped the school transition from NCAA DIII to DII and in 2015 she was honored as ECAC (Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference) Division II Female Administrator of the Year. 
 
As an advocate for women in sports, Liotta is a member of Women Leaders in Sports and a graduate of the Women Leaders Executive Institute, along with serving on various committees throughout her career. She is also a graduate of the NCAA Pathways Program and the DI-AAA and D2-ADA Mentoring Programs.
 
"I truly wouldn't be where I am today without sport and the invaluable intangibles it provided me during my formative years," said Liotta. "Because of that, I know firsthand how important it is to ensure diverse perspectives are represented within athletics departments. Serving as a visible example in this industry matters, and I am incredibly grateful to the many people who paved the way before me and supported my growth along the journey. I especially want to thank Bill Maher, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Canisius, for his mentorship, trust, and friendship throughout my time with the Griffs."
 
Liotta is a native of Chardon, Ohio.  She was a first generation college student and finished undergraduate school as a magna cum laude graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sport management, business administration and athletic coaching.  While at Lake Erie, she earned an MBA degree and while at Canisius she earned a business analytics advanced certificate. 
 
She was a varsity softball player and team captain for the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets where she earned first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference all-academic and academic All-American honors.