Shenandoah University Announces Bill Stewart As Interim Director of Athletics

Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., announced today, July 30, that Bill Stewart will become the university’s interim director of athletics beginning Aug. 15.

Stewart’s appointment comes after DeShon Foxx, Ph.D., announced that he is resigning as Shenandoah’s assistant vice president for student affairs and director of athletics to begin a new role as the deputy athletics director at NCAA Division I Tennessee Tech University. Dr. Foxx’s last day at Shenandoah will be Aug. 14.

Stewart has extensive ties to the Winchester area and Shenandoah University, and has over four decades of experience working in education as a teacher, coach and administrator. A 1975 graduate of John Handley High School in Winchester, Stewart earned a Master of Business Administration from Shenandoah in 1985, and was an adjunct professor of mathematics at SU from 2017-18. Stewart’s late wife, Cindia, was a math professor at Shenandoah for 31 years and served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before retiring in 2019.

We’re thrilled to welcome Bill Stewart back to Shenandoah University as our interim athletics director. His deep roots in the Winchester community, combined with his four decades of dedicated leadership in sports and education, make him a great fit to lead our athletics department during this transition. Bill understands Shenandoah’s values and its commitment to student-athlete success both on the field and in the classroom. I’m confident that our coaches, staff, and student-athletes will be in great hands under his leadership.

“I’m also tremendously grateful to DeShon for everything he has done for Shenandoah during his five years of service in the university’s Athletics Department, Division of Student Affairs and Office of Advancement. He has proven himself to be a talented leader, and all of us at Shenandoah wish him the best of luck in his new role.”

Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., Shenandoah University President

Stewart spent much of his 42-year career in education in Winchester and Frederick County public schools, serving as athletics director at Millbrook and Handley high schools and, prior to that, as a math teacher and head coach for the cross country and track and field programs at James Wood and Sherando high schools. He was also the AD at Jefferson High School in West Virginia before retiring in 2022.

Stewart was an all-state performer for Handley’s cross country and track and field programs in the mid-1970s and helped lead the Judges to back-to-back cross country state titles in 1973 and 1974. He enjoyed a successful college career at Allegheny Community College – which won the junior college national cross country championship in 1976 – and Clemson University, where he was part of the Tigers’ 1978 ACC championship squad and earned all-conference honors for both athletics and academics. Stewart is in the Hall of Fame at both Handley and Sherando as an athlete and coach, respectively.

As Shenandoah’s interim AD, Stewart will work closely with the university’s associate and assistant athletics directors to lead a department of 23 intercollegiate sports, over 600 student-athletes, and 75 coaches and staff members as the university begins a national search for its next athletics director.

It’s a tremendous honor to serve Shenandoah University in this interim role. I am grateful to President Tracy Fitzsimmons for her confidence and trust as I step in to lead Shenandoah University Athletics through this time of transition. During my professional career, I’ve dedicated myself to empowering young people to make a positive impact in the world, and I understand the transformational role that sports can play in the lives of student-athletes. Having the opportunity to pursue this passion in a community and at a university that mean so much to me is a gift. I look forward to supporting Shenandoah University Athletics as we strive for continued excellence on the playing fields and courts, in the classroom, and within our community.”

Bill Stewart, Shenandoah University’s Interim Director of Athletics

Foxx spent two years as Shenandoah’s director of athletics and five years in various administrative roles at the university. As Shenandoah’s AD, Foxx oversaw the addition of men’s volleyball as Shenandoah’s 23rd sport (the Hornets’ inaugural season took place in 2025-26) and founded the university’s 1875 Club, the official fundraising and sponsorship arm of Shenandoah Athletics. Earlier this year, he helped the university announce a significant financial gift from Jimmy and Roni Wilkins, Richie and Cara Wilkins, and the James R. Wilkins Charitable Trust to fund an expansion of the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center.

“Shenandoah University means a great deal to me and always will,” Foxx said. “What makes this place so special is the people. I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside coaches who pour so much into their programs and student-athletes, a staff that works tirelessly to create a first-class experience for our students, and student-athletes who represent Shenandoah with pride. I am especially grateful to President Tracy Fitzsimmons for the belief, support and opportunity to lead this department. I have tremendous respect and admiration for Shenandoah and will always be thankful for the relationships, experiences, and memories my family and I have made here. Thank you, Shenandoah and, as always, go Hornets!”

Over the past two years, Shenandoah’s student-athletes combined to earn 116 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors. Since the Fall 2024 season, Shenandoah’s student-athletes and coaches have won a total of 14 major conference awards and two ODAC championships, and made four NCAA tournament appearances. In the classroom, Shenandoah’s Athletics Department posted a collective 3.35 GPA during the 2025-26 academic year, with 269 student-athletes earning a GPA of 3.50 or higher, including 71 with a 4.0 GPA.