Harry Stinson III was named Director of Athletics and Recreational Services on May 1, 2023, marking his return to the role he held from 2017-2022.
Stinson returns to lead the Lions after a brief stint as Deputy Director of Athletics for Internal Operations and Chief of Staff at the University of Delaware. Embarking on his second chapter as a Lion, he has sights on leading Lincoln Athletics to new heights.
During Stinson's previous tenure at Lincoln, he played a vital role in the rebranding of the University and its athletics department – complete with a new logo, new colors, new mascot, and new tagline, Learn. Liberate. Lead., as part of the Reimagining the Legacy strategic plan unveiled in 2018.
Stinson's first tenure leading the Lions was filled with numerous successes. He increased the department's operating budget by 20 percent and its athletics scholarship budget by 30 percent. He revamped the fundraising structure for athletics, created the First Club as the official fundraising arm of Lincoln Athletics, and launched an athletics online store that saw increased profits by 23 percent in its first four years.
Under Stinson's leadership, several facility and renovation projects were completed, including indoor batting cages for the baseball and softball programs, renovated locker rooms for the men's and women's basketball programs, and resurfacing the main and auxiliary floors inside Manuel Rivero Gymnasium. He oversaw the $2.1 million renovation of the turf and track surfaces at the Athletics Stadium, completed in August 2022, and was a catalyst in launching the $30 million renovation project for the main athletics department facility, scheduled for completion in 2025.
Stinson bolstered the coaching staffs across all 14 varsity sports and created seven new administrative positions within the department. His acumen in making coaching hires is evident in his appointments to lead the Lions' basketball squads. In her first season leading the women's basketball program in 2021-22, Janice Washington guided the Lions to the CIAA Tournament title and earned CIAA Coach of the Year honors. Jason A. Armstrong, given the interim tag to lead the men's basketball program for the 2022-23 season, guided the Lions to a magical run to the CIAA Tournament championship game.
Stinson created the Student-Athlete Support Services office to enhance the overall support of student-athletes. In the first six semesters of the office's formation, the overall GPA of Lincoln student-athletes rose from 2.76 to 3.02. Stinson's emphasis on academic excellence paid dividends as the department's NCAA Academic Success Rate rose to 86 percent and graduation rate improved to 66 percent.
Looking toward the future and possible growth of the Lincoln Athletics offerings, Stinson led the way in creating club teams in men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's tennis, as well as an esports program during his first stint as athletics director.
Throughout his career, Stinson has been dedicated to service to the industry. He has served on the NCAA Division II Management Council and served as Vice Chair in 2022. He served on the NCAA Constitution Committee and Division II Implementation Committee. He has also served as Vice Chair of the Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee (MOIC), on the NCAA Board of Directors Ad Hoc Committee on Sports Wagering, NCAA Enforcement and Committee on Infractions Task Force, Committee on Infractions (serving as Chair from 2017-2020), Eligibility Center Advisory Board, and the NCAA Golf Regional Advisory Committee.
Stinson has served on multiple committees within the CIAA. He previously served as vice chair and chair of the CIAA Management Council from 2018-2022, as well as chair of the CIAA Basketball Championship Committee, Cross Country Championship Committee, and a member of the CIAA Football Championship Committee.
Stinson is also a member of many professional organizations, including NACDA, NAAC, DII-ADA, and MOAA, where he served on the Board of Directors. In 2021, Stinson teamed with Kelly Lewis to launch the Black Sports Professionals Philadelphia chapter, where he currently serves as president.
Prior to joining Lincoln, Stinson was the Associate Director of Athletics at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, managing the day-to-day operations of the athletics department. Prior to Central State, he served as the Interim Director of Athletics at Kentucky State University. In addition to his responsibilities as Interim Director of Athletics, Stinson also handled external operations and compliance for the athletics department as well as head coach of the men's golf program. He also served as the sport administrator for all 13 sports and oversaw athletic training and sports information during his tenure at KSU. Stinson was also the Interim Commissioner/Director of Championships, Communications, and Marketing at the SIAC from 2005-2009.
A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Stinson earned his bachelor's degree from Florida State University in 2002 while competing as a track & field student-athlete. He went on to earn his Master of Science degree in Sport Administration from Georgia State University in 2005 and received an Athlete Development Professional Certification from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business in 2017.
He is married to Rasheda Stinson. The couple has one daughter, Laila, and is expecting another daughter, Alycia Marie, in July 2023.
