Travis Whipple Named SMSU Vice President of Athletics
Published Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Travis Whipple, the current Director of Athletics at Fort Lewis College (Colo.) with nearly two decades of athletics administration experience, has been named Southwest Minnesota State University’s new Vice President of Athletics, SMSU Interim President David Jones announced on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
Whipple, who will begin his duties on Aug. 25, recently completed his third year at Fort Lewis. He has been an athletics administrator in external relations at the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and high school levels helping reach record totals in all three major revenue generating areas including fundraising, season ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.
“Travis Whipple brings with him, not only the experience of a national championship winning Division II student-athlete from an NSIC university in Minnesota, but the understanding of what success looks like having worked at ten colleges and universities, including three in Minnesota,” Jones said. “His track record of supporting student success and connecting with communities made Travis the right choice to build on Mustang Athletics.”
During his tenure at Fort Lewis, Whipple has overseen a department reach numerous milestones on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the community. As a department, FLC student-athletes have surpassed 4,000 hours of community service and maintained a grade point average above 3.25. He also guided the department through a multi-year strategic plan, helped finalized a multi-million-dollar commitment to establish a new performance center on campus and helped create a $25 million facilities master plan.
Whipple and the administrative team also relaunched the Skyhawks Club—the official fundraising arm for FLC Athletics. Over the last year, Skyhawks Athletics generated more than $2.2 million in support from 1,700+ donors—marking the third straight year surpassing the $2 million milestone, while corporate partnerships grew by 20 percent.
“It’s a great day to be a Mustang! Thank you to Dr. Jones, Laura O’Rourke (search committee chairperson) and the entire search committee, as well as all involved in the process,” Whipple said. “I am grateful for this opportunity at such an exciting time on campus. Together, we can strive for excellence and take this program to new heights while honoring tradition.”
Prior to his time at FLC, Whipple served one year as Vice President for College Relations at Crown College (2021-22) in St. Bonifacius, Minn., overseeing fundraising, development, community and alumni relations while leading the Department of Athletics. He was also Director of Athletics, Recreation and Wellness at North Central University (2000-01) in Minneapolis.
Whipple, a native of Woodbury, Minn., has also held roles with Oral Roberts University, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, the University of Illinois-Springfield and the Lone Star Conference. He started his administrative career as Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations at his alma mater, Winona State University in 2008.
Whipple was a four-year standout in men’s basketball at WSU from 2005-09, where he was a key member of two NCAA national championship (2006, 2008) and three NSIC championship (2006, 2007, 2008) teams. Named All-NSIC second team as a senior in 2009, Whipple closed his career ranking in the top 15 in team history in assists (335), 3-point field goal pct. (44.0), 3-point field goals (167) and games played (144).
“Our family is thrilled to be joining an amazing community and institution that has always left such an impression on us,” Whipple said. “We are looking forward to enhancing the student-athlete experience, making an impact in Marshall, and advancing the mission of SMSU. Great days ahead!”
Whipple earned his bachelor’s degree in education from WSU in 2008, while earning his master's degree from WSU in educational leadership in 2010.
Travis and his wife, Kim, have one daughter, Mia, and one son, Kai.
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