Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA National Office has announced the hiring of Dr. Brett Monaghan as the Vice President of Championships and Sports Governance. Dr. Monaghan brings over two decades of collegiate athletic experience to the association as well as over a decade of experience at the two-year level.
Dr. Monaghan joins the NJCAA staff after serving as the Athletic Director of NJCAA member Indian Hills Community College (IA) since August of 2015. He has also served as the school's Vice President of Student Development and Operations for the past three years. Under his leadership, the athletics department has grown its sport offerings through the debut of men's and women's wrestling, sports shooting, competitive cheer, dance, men's and women's track and field, and women's golf. The Warriors have captured 11 national championships and amassed hundreds of academic All-Region and NJCAA All-Academic individual and team honors under his guidance.
Dr. Monaghan first stepped onto the campus of Indian Hills in 2012 when he was hired as an assistant baseball coach after previously serving as the head baseball coach at Iowa Wesleyan College. Before taking the role of Athletic Director, Dr. Monaghan served in several capacities including Director of Athletics/Student Services, Coordinator of Career and Pathway Education, and Executive Dean of Student Development and Athletics.
"I'm thrilled to join the NJCAA as the Vice President of Championships & Sports Governance," stated Dr. Monaghan. "My hope is that my experience as an NJCAA coach and athletic administrator along with my time as a region director and sports chair will serve our membership in a way that will continue to move our association forward. My passion for the two-year student-athlete experience is what motivates me daily as a professional and this opportunity will allow me to bring that passion to our over 500 member institutions and 70,000 plus student-athletes."
Dr. Monaghan has continuously committed his time and effort to the association and its student-athletes and on a national level has chaired the NJCAA DI Softball Committee, NJCAA Women's Wrestling Committee, and the NJCAA Sports Governance Committee. He has also served as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Regional Director, Assistant Regional Director, and Indian Hills Higher Learning Commission Committee Chair. Dr. Monaghan completed his sixth year as chair of softball, second consecutive year of women's wrestling, and first year as sports governance chair. He also served as the Women's Director for NJCAA Region 11.
"I am excited to add Dr. Monaghan to the NJCAA leadership staff," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President and CEO. "His background in all capacities of the NJCAA and higher education will continue to aid my team's success, as well as our association's success."
As the NJCAA Vice President of Championships and Sports Governance, Dr. Monaghan will oversee the recruitment and selection of host sites, execution and management of all NJCAA national championships, and work with regional and district championships as needed.
Dr. Monaghan earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and completed his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Iowa State University. In April of 2024, Dr. Monaghan was named the NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year.