Wheaton College Athletics

Dr. Tony Ladd served as the Athletics Director at Wheaton from 1983 until his retirement in 2011. He also was the chair of Wheaton's Physical Education (later Kinesiology) Department from 1983-2002.
 
During his 28-year span overseeing the Athletics Department, Wheaton won five NCAA Division III National Championships and 15 individual National Championships. Over that time Wheaton programs participated in multiple NCAA Championship events: football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, volleyball, women's golf, and wrestling.
 
Wheaton athletic programs won 127 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships during Ladd's tenure – with 67 conference titles in women's sports and 60 CCIW crowns in men's sports.
 
Tony recalled of his appointment to Wheaton, "During my early years at Wheaton there was considerable controversy related to my assuming A.D. duties.  I was an outsider replacing Jack Swartz, a much-loved person in the Wheaton community.  Over time, Jack became a model for me of living Christianly in the realm of sport.  We became partners in continuing to develop the athletic program. Ultimately, we formed a bond of friendship that enabled God to use us both at Wheaton, in the CCIW and the NCAA. Jack taught me much about Christian sport ministry and serving others. I still miss him today."
 
He reflected on his tenure, "It was important to me that I assured Wheaton's voice in NCAA affairs, while reaffirming and enhancing discipleship through sport among coaches and athletes. One of my most satisfying efforts within the NCAA organization was sponsoring and securing legislation that endorsed athletics as central to the conduct of education.  By extending that general philosophy of athletics at Wheaton, we helped equip student athletes with tools to effectively live in and address our secular culture. The result is that every team consciously used the sport platform not just to win championships for Wheaton but also to call attention to the world that Jesus Christ lives."