The new commissioner of the Big South Conference has ties to Winthrop University

Sherika A. Montgomery, the new Commissioner of the Big South Conference, is no strangr to Winthrop University.

Montgomery served as Associate Athletic Director for Student Success at Winthrop from 2017 to 2018. And now she will take over for Kyle Kallander, who is retiring after 27 years.

Montgomery is coming most recently from the Missouri Valley Conference, where she served as deputy commissioner this past year.

“In reacquainting myself with the mission of the Conference, I am yet again reminded of the immense opportunity to serve and ensure the Big South continues to be ‘Where Winners Are Made’ for years to come,” Montgomery said in the press release. “I am especially grateful for Commissioner Kallander, his visionary leadership and invaluable mentorship. I look forward to returning to the Big South and joining industry leaders in creating meaningful intercollegiate athletics opportunities focused on optimal student-athlete experiences personally, academically and athletically.”

She will begin her duties on May 15.

Winthrop athletic director Chuck Rey said he is more than confident that Montgomery can take the conference to new heights.

“I’m excited because I think she brings a completely different mix, but with the experience of what she has with working with the Big South Conference,” Rey said. “Somebody a little bit younger that has the opportunity to have a better pulse on student-athletes and the conferences and where they are today. That will allow us to move in more innovative and maybe technological ways.”

Montgomery also is a former Big South athlete.

She played college basketball at Gardner-Webb, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management in 2009 and her master’s degree in Sports Science and and Pedagogy in 2011.

This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 2:09 PM with the headline "The new commissioner of the Big South Conference has ties to Winthrop University."