Fulton, Mo. – Romaine Seguin, President of William Woods University (WWU), today announced the appointment of Brian Spielbauer, who previously served as Athletic Director at two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) institutions, as the University's new Vice President of Athletics. Spielbauer, whose 17-year collegiate athletics career includes experience both in administration and as a head coach, will begin his new position on July 28.

"We are excited to welcome Brian Spielbauer to William Woods to become the next leader of our proud athletic tradition at the university," said President Seguin. "Brian's impressive background in intercollegiate athletics, which includes experience leading two athletic departments as A.D., serving as a head coach and as an academic instructor, makes him an asset to lead our athletic department. I look forward to WWU athletics thriving as a place for championship teams and student-athletes of character that excel both on the field and in the classroom under his leadership."

"I have long held William Woods University and Owls Athletics in high esteem," said Spielbauer about his appointment. "From President Seguin to the hiring committee and the coaches, I have been very impressed with both the passion they hold for the university and their goals for the future."

Spielbauer comes to WWU from the Endeavor Agency, a career transition and recruitment firm located in Columbia, Mo., where he has been serving as Vice President of Business Development since 2021. While at Endeavor, he has been responsible for consultative selling of career progression services to business executives across the nation.

Previously, Spielbauer served as Director of Athletics at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. from 2014-2019, where he was responsible for overseeing 17 NAIA sports and over 600 student-athletes. Under his leadership, Central Methodist hosted six conference championships and one conference tournament championship, plus four NAIA National Championship Opening Rounds, where Spielbauer served as tournament director. Under his leadership, the Central Methodist men's soccer team won the school's first team NAIA National Championship, in 2018.

Prior to Central Methodist, Spielbauer served as Athletic Director at Presentation College (2012-2014) in Aberdeen, South Dakota, leading a department that included 10 intercollegiate teams and more than 300 student-athletes. While at Presentation, he spearheaded the school's transition from NCAA Division III to the NAIA for all its sports teams, partnering with five local colleges to establish a new NAIA Conference.

From 2002-2012, Spielbauer started a new academic major in Strength and Conditioning and was the Head Women's Basketball Coach at William Penn University, an NAIA university located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. As women's basketball coach, he coached two All-Americans and numerous All-Conference student-athletes; posted the school's first winning season in 16 years in 2010 and the best overall season in 29 years (23-10) in 2011; and was named the NAIA Region VII "Coach of Character" award recipient in 2006.

A native of Guttenberg, Iowa, Spielbauer is a 1996 graduate of William Penn University (Bachelor of Arts, Physical Education), and Bemidji (Minn.) State University (Masters in Sports Studies) in 2002. He is married to his wife Jennifer and they are parents to two daughters, Sydney and Allie.