K-State’s Koudele Promoted to Senior Associate AD for Compliance

(Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics)

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Daren Koudele, an eight-year member of the K-State Compliance office who has increased his role throughout his time in Manhattan, has been promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced.

Koudele, who previously served as an Associate AD for Compliance and was the second in command of the office, will now oversee the entire compliance operation for K-State as he replaces Lindsey Babcock, who left earlier this year for Wake Forest.

“Daren has been a major part of our compliance office’s operation for the past eight years, and he has proven that he is ready for this new opportunity,” Taylor said. “He has been instrumental in our department’s stability during this unprecedented time, which has included daily NCAA rules updates and changes. We look forward to him building his team and leading our compliance efforts.”

In addition to leading the compliance staff, Koudele’s new role will also see him develop procedures to ensure institutional control; develop and monitor compliance systems pertaining to recruitment, admission, eligibility, financial aid and housing; oversee and monitor all recruiting activities performed by coaches; ensure compliance with NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules; and establish and oversee procedures for administration of the National Letter of Intent, among other duties.

“This opportunity to lead the K-State compliance office and assist our coaches and student-athletes is very humbling,” Koudele said. “I would like to thank Gene Taylor, (Deputy AD) Jill Shields, (Faculty Athletics Representative) Be Stoney and the K-State administration for their support during this process. As a K-State graduate from a family of K-State graduates, I know how special the ‘K-State Family’ culture can be for our student-athletes. I am excited to be a member of Gene’s senior leadership team, and I look forward to building upon our strong foundation of compliance at K-State.”

A former attorney, Koudele came to K-State in 2012 from Northern Iowa where he served as Director of Compliance for two years. He began his athletics administration career as a graduate assistant at Wichita State in 2006 before serving three years as the Associate Athletic Director/Compliance Coordinator at Newman, assisting the Jets in their transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.

Prior to entering athletic administration, Koudele practiced law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the firm of Levicoff, Silko, & Deemer, P.C.

Koudele earned his juris doctorate from West Virginia in 2004 where he also served as a member of the Law Review. A native of Derby, Kansas, he graduated from Kansas State in 2001 with his bachelor’s degree in political science. In 2017, he earned his master’s degree in Sport Management from Wichita State.