University of St. Thomas Athletics
Manning joins Tommie Athletics as Senior Associate Athletics Director, SWA
5/22/2025 12:51:00 PM | Baseball, Football, Athletics, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Hockey, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Men's Track & Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Hockey, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Women's Track & Field, Volleyball, Spirit Squad
ST. PAUL, MINN. – The University of St. Thomas Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten announced Julie Manning will join the Tommie athletic department as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Women's Administrator (SWA). Manning, who brings over 25 years of experience to the position, will join St. Thomas' leadership team on June 2, 2025.
"Julie Manning is the perfect candidate for this leadership position as she brings extensive experience to Tommie Athletics," commented Esten. "Her administrative and coaching experience across four Division I institutions will provide St. Thomas with sage leadership as we continue our own Division I journey. Julie brings a mission-driven focus on student-athlete outcomes and will contribute immediately to our pursuit for comprehensive excellence."
Manning joins the Tommies after spending the previous nine years at the University of Minnesota, where she served in a similar role as the department's Deputy Athletics Director, SWA. During her time with the Gophers, Manning oversaw the department's student welfare and leadership unit along with the intercollegiate athletics sport performance unit, including athletic training, strength and condition, performance nutrition, performance sport psychology and applied health and performance science. Manning also served as the sport administrator for men's basketball, women's volleyball and women's golf and was the department's liaison with the Big Ten Network (BTN), Intercollegiate Athletic Committee (IAC) and Faculty Athletics Oversight Intercollegiate Athletics Committee (FAOIAC).
"I am absolutely thrilled to be named the Senior Associate AD/SWA at the University of St Thomas," said Manning. "I have had the great privilege of experiencing many things in my career, but I have not been a part of a historic transformation with an institution transitioning from Div III to DI as St. Thomas is doing. I am looking forward to being a part of this continued evolution and success.
I want to thank President Vischer, Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten and the search committee, for putting their faith in me. I also want to thank the University of Minnesota for an incredible experience the past eight and a half years. I was fortunate to work with some remarkable administrators, coaches and student-athletes, and I am truly grateful for my time as a Gopher. Now, it's onto the next challenge. I cannot wait to get started with the leadership team at St. Thomas. Roll Toms!"
Prior to her time at Minnesota, Manning served in administrative and leadership roles at both the University of Wyoming and the University of Colorado. In her nearly three years at Wyoming, Manning was the SWA, oversaw Title IX and the department's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and represented the department at Mountain West Conference and NCAA meetings. While at Colorado, Manning served as an associate athletics director for compliance, financial aid and administration and served as the department's Title IX coordinator and chair of the Gender Equity Committee.
Manning started her career in coaching, serving as the Iowa State University head women's golf coach from 1983 to 1998. During her tenure, Cyclone student-athletes earned 13 Academic All-America honors, and Manning was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Hall of Fame in January 2000. An Iowa State grad herself, Manning competed in golf while earning a degree in Physical Education with a coaching endorsement.
