University of St. Thomas Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Deputy Athletics Director, Internal Operations
- Email:
- Phone:
- 651-962-6193
Cory Chapman joined St. Thomas as the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Internal Operations in 2019 and was promoted to Deputy Athletic Director in 2023.
Chapman oversees the areas of facility operations, capital projects, event management, championships, special events, intramurals and recreation, equipment services, and ticket operations. In addition, Chapman will serve as the sport administrator for men’s basketball, men's and women's golf, and men’s and women's soccer.
Chapman came to St. Thomas after four years at Penn State University, where he served as Associate Athletic Director, Facility and Event Operations. Chapman was responsible for home football game day operations at Beaver Stadium as well as event management, information technology, athletic grounds, the Penn State golf course, and was the sport administrator for the baseball program. At Penn State, Chapman managed 30-plus full-time staff members, as well as budgets that supported Penn State's 31 varsity athletic programs and 14 athletic facilities. Chapman also managed and facilitated major maintenance and capital projects to enhance and support Nittany Lion student-athletes.
Prior to his time at Penn State, Chapman spent six years at another Big Ten institution, the University of Minnesota. Chapman started as the Operations Manager for the inaugural season of TCF Bank Stadium in 2009. After one year in that role, Chapman was promoted to be the Director of Williams Arena and the Sports Pavilion before ultimately finishing his time as a Gopher as the Senior Director for Indoor Arenas for two years from 2013 to 2015.
While at Minnesota, Chapman was responsible for overall leadership and the strategic direction of all indoor facilities, as well as facility staff, maintenance, capital projects, programming and special event revenue generation.
Chapman began his career in college athletics at Division III Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. At Simpson, Chapman served as the Facility and Event Operations manager for seven years from 2002 to 2009, while also leading the women’s soccer program for the last five seasons beginning in 2004. As head coach, Chapman led the Storm to the 2006 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) regular season title and was named the IIAC Coach of the Year.
A native of La Crosse, Wis., Chapman holds a master’s degree from Fort Hays State University and a bachelor’s degree from Viterbo University. Chapman played collegiate soccer, beginning his career at Bethany Lutheran College, where he earned second-team All-America honors as a freshman before finishing his playing career at Viterbo.
Chapman and his wife, Lynn, have three children (Maria, Casey, and Charlie).
