Dec. 1 marked the start of a new chapter in Fordham Athletics with Charles Guthrie joining the Ramily as the new director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation. After an extensive search, on Nov. 18 University President Tania Tetlow announced that Guthrie would fill the position previously held by Ed Kull.
Guthrie comes to Fordham from Akron University where he had served as athletic director since July of 2021. During his time in Ohio, he oversaw 18 NCAA Division I programs and 500 student-athletes according to Fordham Sports. Guthrie’s ability to connect with student-athletes shined through at Akron where he said he knew all 500 Zips by name.
The Akron Athletic programs saw a lot of success under Guthrie with 11 Mid-American Conference championships across 18 Division I sports. The men’s soccer team won the program’s first ever Big East regular season title and the men’s basketball team won titles in 2022 and 2024 that led them to the NCAA tournament, all according to Fordham Sports.
Before his tenure in Akron, Guthrie served in the athletic departments of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; San Francisco State University; Clark College; California State University, Los Angeles; and University of California, San Diego.
Guthrie highlighted that his approach to leading a college athletic department ensures that student-athletes are at the heart of his vision.
Tetlow said in the welcome press conference for Guthrie that his hands-on experience and ability to connect with the athletic community at his previous universities were one of the main reasons he was selected by Fordham’s search committee.
“Charles, we hired you because of your welded experience. Because everywhere you have been, you are beloved by student athletes because you know them by name. Because you see them as people who benefit from the teamwork, leadership development, discipline, hard work, so much of what athletics brings to the student experience and that they are both athletes and students at the same time,” Tetlow said.
As a New York native from Albany, who attended both Syracuse University and the University at Albany for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees respectively, Guthrie is thrilled to be back in his home state.
“I had to pinch myself a few times coming back home to New York,” he said at the welcome press conference.
In both the press conference and the student-athlete session Fordham held before Guthrie’s tenure, Guthrie highlighted that his approach to leading a college athletic department ensures that student-athletes are at the heart of his vision.
“I know this, as long as we remain student-centered, and as you hear me talk a lot about that, student-focused and student-centered, we’ll succeed here at Fordham University. And we will deliver it in experiences that are meaningful,” he said. “I know that’s a big part of President Tetlow’s mission and vision is to make sure our students are leaving here and can impact the world. Thank you all for this incredible opportunity.”
Tetlow praised Guthrie’s ability to work with coaches to build programs up from recruiting to ensuring the success of current student-athletes.
As the athletic director at Fordham, Guthrie will serve as an intermediary between student-athletes, coaches, faculty, stakeholders and all those who participate in Fordham athletic programs. Tetlow praised Guthrie’s ability to work with coaches to build programs up from recruiting to ensuring the success of current student-athletes.
“You are renowned for your ability to coach the coaches, to identify and retain and hire brilliant talent of those men and women who get the best out of our teams. Who knows how to help us win and bring that tremendous pride and joy to our community when they succeed,” she said to Guthrie.
Along with the athletic programs at Fordham, the landscape of college athletics is constantly evolving, a fact that has not been lost on Guthrie during his extensive career in programs across the country.
“Working in college athletics feels like a moving target. It is like you’re building a plane and trying to fly at the same time,” he said at the press conference.
As he steps into his role as Fordham’s athletic director, Guthrie said he is ready to continue to evolve Fordham’s programs alongside the changes in the wider college athletic landscape.
“We are ready to innovate and take full advantage of the new landscape of college athletics and what it can do to the university,” Guthrie said. “Our athletics has reached the tipping point in this new age of the transfer portal NIL. And preparation for the outcomes of the house settlement and the never-ending changes impacting our industry.”
One of those big changes is the updates due to the House v. NCAA settlement that occurred earlier this year. The settlement is several class action lawsuits brought against the NCAA by student-athletes in attempts to reshape revenue sharing in college athletics, including regulations to Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and roster caps.
“We’re developing a ‘Fordham’ strategy to ensure our program is well-positioned with the pending House settlement.” Charles Guthrie, new director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation
The House settlement will affect every university differently but is at the forefront of everyone’s minds in college athletics, including Guthrie’s. With the start of his tenure in December, he has shared his hopes for the Fordham athletics program’s ability to evolve with the financial changes that will occur due to the settlement.
“We’re developing a ‘Fordham’ strategy to ensure our program is well-positioned with the pending House settlement. This includes coordination with campus leadership and external stakeholders,” he said.
Alongside the changes to the greater college athletics scene, Guthrie also has his eye on the environments within the athletic programs at Fordham. It is no lie that Fordham Athletics has struggled with student attendance at their games in the past. Ensuring the growth of school spirit and the support of the student-athletes and their respective programs is also top of mind for Guthrie.
“In order to charge ahead, student participation is required. That means showing up to games, wearing the maroon with pride and excitement, students bring a ton of energy,” he said. “On our end, we’re going to be aggressive in getting the entire student body involved in some capacity with Rams athletics.”
Although Guthrie’s time at Fordham has just started, he has shown his willingness to connect with the student-athletes on campus and the Ramily as a whole from the start. From the moment his tenure was announced, he has shared his excitement surrounding his future work here at Fordham.
“I look forward to leading the athletic department and recreation and club sports here at Fordham,” Guthrie said. “I’m excited to get going and go Rams.”
