LIBERTY, Mo. – William Jewell College has announced the hiring of Joel Lueken as Deputy Athletics Director, effective August 5. Lueken previously spent eight years on The Hill from 2006-2014.
 
I'm truly grateful and blessed for this opportunity to serve William Jewell College and Cardinal Athletics," said Lueken. "My family and I are excited for this journey."
 
He returns to the Cardinals after serving as the Director of Athletics at South Dakota Mines, where he led the Hardrockers during their transition to NCAA Division II and membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). During his tenure, he oversaw the doubling the Department's overall operating budget while raising $17 million in support of scholarships and capital projects, culminating in improvements to facilities and sports medicine services for student-athletes. Under Lueken, the Athletics Department boasted two RMAC Woman of the Year award winners and maintained higher retention, graduation, and job placement rates than the overall student body.
 
Prior to Mines, he spent eight years at Jewell serving as an assistant baseball coach and event management coordinator. In 2009 was named Associate Athletics Director as he assisted with the College's transition to Division II and spearheaded cooperate sponsorships. In total, he brings more than 20 years of experience in college athletics, having also made stops as a baseball coach at Ellsworth Community College (Iowa) and Ottawa University (Kan.).
 
Lueken holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Ottawa University, where he helped lead the Braves to two conference championships. He also earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Northwest Missouri State as well as an associate degree from Ellsworth Community College. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, is married to wife Melissa and has one daughter Reghan.