Gordon College Athletics

Jason Linders was appointed Director of Athletics at Gordon College on April 1, 2024. In his first full year leading the Fighting Scots, the department achieved its highest finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings—231st nationally and seventh among institutions in the Conference of New England (CNE)—marking Gordon’s first national ranking since 2021–22. His tenure has been marked by strategic growth, competitive success, operational innovation, and strengthened collaboration across campus and the surrounding community.

Leadership and Impact at Gordon College
Since his arrival, Linders has advanced initiatives to strengthen the department’s competitive profile, financial sustainability, student-athlete experience, and institutional partnerships. He also played a key role in securing associate membership for Gordon’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs in the Little East Conference, beginning in the 2026–27 academic year.
 
Brand Development and Corporate Partnerships. Linders negotiated a five-year apparel partnership with adidas through Collins Sports Center, outfitting all varsity teams and strengthening the Fighting Scots’ athletic brand. He also expanded the department’s Corporate Partnership Program, adding partners including Chick-fil-A, Metz Dining Services, Collins Sports, Super Sub Shop, and Joseph’s Transportation.
 
Fundraising and Revenue Generation. In partnership with Advancement, Linders helped restructure the department’s annual Clash of the Tartans Day of Giving. In 2026, the event surpassed $400,000 for the first time in program history, with 14 teams exceeding their fundraising goals.
 
Campus and Community Engagement. In collaboration with Student Life and campus leadership, Linders helped establish and expand traditions that connect Athletics with the broader Gordon community, including Move-In Day, Faculty Appreciation Event, Athletics Chapel, and Senior Graduation Celebration. The department has also participated in community initiatives such as the Harvest Festival, Senator Tarr’s Toy Drive, Christmas at Gordon, and Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.
 
Facilities and Infrastructure. Linders has helped advance improvements across Gordon’s athletic facilities, including lighting upgrades at Brigham Stadium, tennis court resurfacing and rebranding, new outfield windscreens at the baseball and softball fields, a Chick-fil-A-sponsored scoreboard at J. Tec White Baseball Field, women’s team locker room renovations, and a comprehensive renovation of the Bennett Center Pool. In partnership with the Gordon Design Center, he also led the rebranding of the Athletics suite in the Bennett Center.
 
Strategic Planning and Organizational Development. Linders led the development of Gordon Athletics’ 2025–2029 strategic plan, aligning departmental priorities with the College’s institutional mission. Centered on a Faith-Based Student-Athlete Experience, the plan identifies six focus areas:

• Faith, Learning & Living
• Student-Athlete Well-Being and Performance
• Competitive Excellence
• Stewardship
• Campus and Community Engagement
• Commitment to Shalom

In collaboration with campus partners, Linders has also helped develop hybrid positions designed to improve systems and processes, strengthen donor relations, expand revenue generation, and support recruiting, retention, and enrollment.
 
Coaching Leadership. Linders has recruited nine new head coaches across baseball, field hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, softball, swimming, and volleyball, supporting program development and sustained competitive growth.
 
Competitive Accomplishments
During his first two years, 12 of Gordon’s 24 varsity teams advanced to postseason competition. Notable accomplishments included:

• Men’s Soccer: Earned regional recognition in the NCAA Division III Region II rankings for the first time since 2023.
• Women’s Soccer: Earned its first NCAA Championship appearance since 2021.
• Women’s Indoor Track & Field: Finished 64th nationally at the NCAA Championships.
• Women’s Outdoor Track & Field: Captured the 2025 CNE Championship and placed 52nd at the NCAA Championships.
• Women’s Rowing: Captured the ACRA National Championship in the Women’s 2x, becoming the first program in ACRA history to win three consecutive titles in the event. The team also earned gold in the V4+ and bronze in the V4x at the Dad Vail Regatta and finished third in the V4 at the New England Rowing Championships.

 
Previous Administrative Experience
An 18-year veteran of collegiate athletics administration, Linders previously served as Director of Athletics and High School Operations for Southbridge Public Schools and as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations at Chicago State University.

Grand Canyon University | 2015–2020
Linders served as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Diversity Officer at Grand Canyon University, helping lead the institution’s transition to NCAA Division I. He supervised seven varsity programs, oversaw student-athlete services, and advanced holistic student-athlete development initiatives.
His accomplishments included:

• Three consecutive Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Academic Excellence Awards.
• Eleven teams earning perfect NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores of 1,000, with 18 teams scoring above 970.
• An 84% Graduation Success Rate (GSR), representing a 24% improvement since 2015.
• More than 40% growth in student-athlete development programming, including L.O.P.E.S. For Life, Building Champions Leadership Academy, and the Lopey Awards.
• A 67% increase in recorded community service hours.

University of South Florida | 2009–2015
As Associate Athletics Director for Academics, Linders helped advance academic achievement and student-athlete success across the department. During his tenure, South Florida recorded an 83% Graduation Success Rate. Graduation Success Rates among African American student-athletes (75%) and Hispanic student-athletes (86%) exceeded national averages, while the football program ranked third in the American Athletic Conference and 25th nationally in NCAA Academic Progress Rate.
 
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) | 2006–2009
Linders began his athletics administration career as Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Academic Services at UNLV. Prior to entering administration, he spent eight years coaching collegiate football at Montana State University, Millsaps College, Southern Utah University, the University of Nevada, and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.


NCAA Service and Professional Development
Linders currently serves on the NCAA Division III Cross Country and Track & Field Sport Committee and the Conference of New England Executive Committee. His previous committee service includes the NCAA Division I Committee on Academics, the MOAA Membership Committee, and the MIAA Tennis Sport Committee.
 
His professional development includes NCAA New AD Orientation, the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, the N4A Professional Development Institute, and the TopConnect AD Leadership Symposium. He is also a Certified Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).
 

Education and Family
Linders earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
 
He and his wife, Heather, have three daughters: Kalani, Carlee, and Kamea. Kalani and Carlee attend Arizona State University.