Chicago State University Welcomes New Athletic Director

Chicago State University officially welcomed Dr. Denisha L. Hendricks as the new Athletic Director on Tuesday. Hendricks comes to CSU from Kentucky State University where she also served as Athletic Director. She will assume control of the CSU Athletics Department which includes 13 NCAA Division I programs in the Western Athletic Conference and 160 total student athletes.

“I’m very excited to welcome Dr. Hendricks to the Chicago State University family and I look forward to working directly with her as we continue to make the CSU athletics one of the top collegiate sports programs in all of Illinois,” CSU President Dr. Wayne Watson said. “Dr. Hendricks comes to us with a wealth of experience that will be invaluable to achieving our shared goals of recruiting and guiding student athletes who succeed both in the classroom and on the field.”

“It is an honor to be named the new Athletic Director of Chicago State University and I want to thank Dr. Watson and all of those involved in the search process for putting faith in me as I take on this new role,” Dr. Hendricks said. “I look forward to working closely with all the coaches and athletic department staff who have done such a wonderful job making CSU athletics a point of pride for the University and for Chicago.  I’ve learned a great deal already about the dedication the CSU faculty, staff and students have for their school and I am looking forward to joining the team.” 

Hendricks holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Athletic Training from the University of South Carolina. She earned Master's and Doctoral degrees in Higher Education Administration from Auburn University in 2001 and 2004, respectively. Her dissertation is entitled The Relationship of Hope and Self-efficacy to Health Promoting Behaviors among Student-Athletes Attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2007, Dr. Hendricks graduated from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females. She has to her credit numerous, local, state, regional, and national presentations and several publications that include, refereed journal articles, quantitative instruments, and health promotion training manuals.