Sarah Pruess joined Norse Athletics in August 2023 as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Services/Senior Woman Administrator.
Pruess came to Northern Kentucky from Western Illinois University Athletics where she served as the Deputy Director of Athletics / Senior Woman Administrator. During her time with the Leathernecks, she managed all student services operations which included Compliance, Academics, Athletic Training and Strength and Conditioning with providing sport oversight for Volleyball, Men’s, and Women's Soccer.
Prior to Western Illinois, Pruess spent four years with Valparaiso University Athletics, beginning in November 2018 where she served as the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator. She was promoted to Executive Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator in Spring 2020.
Pruess joined Valpo after spending the previous six years as Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance at St. Bonaventure University. In addition to overseeing the Valpo compliance office and holding the position of SWA, Pruess served as the sport administrator for soccer, softball, tennis, bowling, men’s and women’s swimming, women's basketball, and baseball. Pruess also oversaw sports medicine and sports performance.
In the fall of the 2020, Pruess was selected to attend TopConnect AD, a leadership symposium for aspiring Division-I athletic directors. She served as the vice chair of the Valpo Athletics strategic diversity planning group and was as a member of The Beacons' COVID-19 working group, which developed a detailed plan for holding athletic activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Pruess co-chaired the committee that revised the One Valpo Promise, which was established to promote social equality and communicate the department’s stance against social injustice.
Pruess joined the staff at St. Bonaventure as Assistant A.D. for Compliance in August 2012 and was promoted to Associate A.D. in September 2016. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the Bonnies’ compliance efforts, Pruess provided sport oversight for softball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track and field. She also served on the Executive Athletic Compliance Committee and was the institution’s Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics.
Prior to arriving at St. Bonaventure, Pruess spent five years as the Assistant A.D. for Academic Support Services and Compliance at Wayne State University (2007–2012). She also had previous stints as Director of Compliance at George Mason University (2006) and Chicago State University (2004–2005) and served as Chicago State’s SWA for six months in 2005.
Pruess was a four-year letter winner in softball at Albion College and graduated from Albion in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and management. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Denver in 2003 in management, with a concentration in sports management.
