Ian McCaw
Athletic Director | Liberty University
In his own words…
Ian McCaw was named Athletic Director at Liberty University in 2016. His vision is for Liberty's intercollegiate athletics program to Train Champions for Christ, provide a world-class student-athlete experience, and achieve victory with integrity.
McCaw has lived out this mission, guiding Liberty Athletics to unparalleled success on the field, in the classroom and the local community in a short time. Less than three months into his time at the head of the Athletics Department, McCaw helped launch Liberty into the top level of intercollegiate competition. On Feb. 16, 2017, Liberty received notification that the NCAA had approved its request to enter into a two-year Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) reclassification process.
McCaw led Liberty during its final season as a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) independent in 2017 and guided the Flames into their first season at the FBS level in 2018 — fulfilling the vision of university founder, Rev. Jerry Falwell, for Liberty's Athletics programs to compete at the highest level of NCAA competition. McCaw also helped pave the way for the future of Liberty Athletics on May 17, 2018, when it was announced that 17 of the 20 NCAA Division I programs will end a 27-year run in the Big South Conference to join the ASUN Conference for the 2018-19 athletics season.
Under McCaw's leadership, Liberty Athletics wasted little time making an impact in the ASUN Conference. During its inaugural season as a conference member, Liberty's athletics programs captured seven ASUN championship titles, including men's basketball (regular season and tournament), baseball (tournament), women's tennis (regular season), men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field and women's outdoor track & field.
Additionally, Liberty Athletics was awarded the Bill Bibb Trophy, which is presented to the ASUN Conference institution with the top overall athletics program.
Liberty was also presented with the ASUN Conference's Jesse Fletcher (Men's All-Sports) and Sherman Day (Women's All-Sports) Trophies. This marked the third time in conference history a member institution has swept all three honors and the first time since FGCU did so in 2012-13.
On the gridiron, Liberty's football program caught the attention of many at the FBS level with the Flames' success during the program's inaugural season at the highest level of collegiate football. Liberty finished with a 6-6 record in 2018, becoming the ninth team in NCAA history to win six or more games in its first year of FBS football.
McCaw is well equipped to lead Liberty through this transition process, having nearly two decades of previous service as director of athletics at Baylor (2003-16), Massachusetts (2002-03), and Northeastern (1997-2002).