FOREST, Va. --- The ODAC is pleased to announce that Stacey Staley has officially joined the conference office as its Director of Championships. She steps into the DOC role vacated by Haley Overstreet, who left the position to step back into the Division III coaching ranks in February.

"I am excited about Stacey’s addition to the office," said ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston. "She has been with us for the past six months, assisting the conference office and the league’s membership in a number of areas akin to the Director of Championships position as an intern. Her knowledge of Division III and the ODAC will be an asset as we continue a number of projects and programming initiatives with the start of a new academic year approaching."

Staley, a former field hockey student-athlete from Roanoke College, is the fifth Director of Championships in ODAC history and continues a trend of the conference hiring from within its membership. Each person to fill the position has graduated from an ODAC member institution.

As the Director of Championships, Staley will oversee the logistics and aid in the planning of all championship events for the conference's 25 sponsored sports. She will serve as the lead officer working with the conference's supervisors of officials and ensure proper management of the league's officiating budget. She will also fill a leadership role towards programming for the ODAC's Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Staley has a good feel for her responsibilities in her official new role. She spent the 2023 spring semester in the ODAC office as an intern, gaining experience in several areas normally attributed to the DOC position. She was especially integral to the success of the spring slate of conference championships given the changes in schedules and protocols for some spring sports from the previous year.

A former All-ODAC Second Team choice (2017) and team captain, Staley began her career in collegiate athletics at her alma mater as the assistant coach for the Maroons’ field hockey program. In addition to developing training and recruitment plans in collaboration with head coach Briana Banks, Staley managed and improved the program’s creative outreach to supporters and prospective student-athletes through social media campaigns and the development of recruiting materials.

Staley’s familiarity with the ODAC increased during the 2021-22 season as she moved to Bridgewater College as an assistant for the Eagles’ field hockey outfit. She resumed duties she previously enjoyed at Roanoke while adding responsibilities in community service projects and fundraising events to her portfolio.

Staley relocated to the Lynchburg-area in summer 2022. In addition to beginning her career at the ODAC office, she joined local Virginia Episcopal School as the head coach of its high school field hockey program and an assistant coach for its swimming team.

"I am thrilled to be stepping into the Director of Championships position,” expressed Staley. “This conference means so much to me having now been a part of it for eight years as both a student-athlete and coach. It is an honor to continue contributing to and collaborating with the ODAC’s membership and learning from the individuals that make it one of the best conferences in Division III. I am extremely thankful for this opportunity and excited to grow in this role!"

A native of Smyrna, Delaware, Staley graduated from Roanoke in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and exercise science with a minor in psychology. Her undergraduate experience featured a study abroad program for four months at Massey University in New Zealand. Staley completed a Masters degree in sports leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023.

Staley officially signed on with the ODAC on July 1.