Big news out of Nevada today as Nevada State University, which opened in 2002, announced the hiring of Yvonne Wade as the first athletics director in school history.
“I’m incredibly honored to be named the new athletic director at Nevada State University. It’s a rare and thrilling opportunity to build something from the ground up—something that truly reflects the values of opportunity, excellence, and community,” said Wade. “Our focus will be on student development, fostering a culture rooted in hard work, resiliency, and pride. I look forward to collaborating with our students, staff, and community partners to create an athletic department that not only competes at a high level, but also serves as a model for how expanding opportunities for young people can elevate both our institution’s mission and the broader Southern Nevada sports community.”
Wade begins her history-making position on July 1st, 2025. Her first two programs, supported by student athletic fees, will be Women’s Flag Football and Men’s Track and Field, two sports that are not offered collegiately in the state.
Flag football, which is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, will get its start at the university thanks in large part to the Las Vegas Raiders, who donated $100,000 to help launch the program.
Track will be a labor of love for Wade. She ran collegiately at the University of Colorado, where she was an NCAA All-American, Big Eight Conference champion and a 2014 university Hall of Fame inductee. She also competed in the 100m hurdles for Japan in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympic Games, and held the Japanese national record for more than two decades.
Wade bring a wealth of experience to the Scorpion athletics program. Not only was she a college athlete, but since 2023, she has served as the Director of Athletics at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN). Prior to that, she spent 14 years at UNLV as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. She was a three-time Mountain West Coach of the Year for the Running Rebels and helped the team achieve strong graduation rates.
“Yvonne Wade brings exceptional experience, integrity, and a deep commitment to student development,” said Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President of Nevada State University. “Her career reflects not only a record of competitive excellence, but dedication to mentoring student-athletes and helping them thrive both academically and personally. She embodies the spirit of our institution: innovative, community-driven, and committed to equity. She will be instrumental in shaping a bold future as we build our athletic program from the ground up.”
It’s rare that you get the opportunity to launch and build an athletic program. Now, Yvonne Wade has the opportunity to be the first to put her mark on the athletic program for the Nevada State University Scorpions.
