Adams
The University of Northwestern Ohio’s athletic director, Chris Adams, has formally announced his retirement effective September 9, 2022. Hired in 2007 to relaunch the athletic program at UNOH, the past 15 years have been filled with numerous accomplishments.
“I want to thank Dr. Jarvis and the Board of Trustees for allowing me to be a part of the ‘return of athletics at UNOH’ initiative back in 2006. It has been a very rewarding experience as both an administrator and as a basketball coach,” said Adams. “UNOH allowed me to fulfill my lifelong dream of coaching college basketball! I’m going to miss the relationships we’ve been able to establish with the people involved in the infrastructure at the university, the relationships created by being members of the WHAC and the NAIA, and the long-time relationships with the local media.”
Jen Dervarics will be named athletic cirector following Adams’ retirement and take over full time duties of managing Racer zthletics. “We are fortunate to have the ability to promote our highly successful women’s soccer coach into an administrative position as my replacement,” stated Adams. “She has done an outstanding job in her assistant athletic director’s role and has used her talents to enhance all aspects of the UNOH Athletic Department and coaching staff.”
Dervarics was named associate athletic director in early 2022 after starting her career in 2012 as part of the coaching staff on the women’s soccer team eventually becoming head coach in 2018.
Beginning in a dual role as the athletic director and head men’s basketball coach, Adams helped establish the UNOH Racers as a formidable opponent in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference. Basketball, tennis, and golf marked the return of athletics to UNOH in 2007-2008, Adams has since overseen the expansion to 14 traditional programs along with three motorsports teams.
Under Adams’ leadership, the Racers have proven to be a premier player in the WHAC over its 11 seasons with 31 regular season championships and 30 tournament titles. UNOH has continued to prove itself on the national stage as well, boasting 47 national tournament appearances with four quarterfinalists, three semifinalists, two national championship appearances and one national championship in Women’s Soccer in 2016.
In 2017, Adams decided to take a step away from coaching to focus on his role as athletic director. The past five years have continued to see growth in athletics as programs add JV teams and continue to recruit Racers athletes regionally, nationally, and internationally.
The 2021-22 athletic season continued that success with two more regular season WHAC champions, three tournament champions and five teams participating in post-season national tournaments. Six programs received national rankings over the year with Men’s Tennis highlighting the field finishing the season ranked #6 nationally.
UNOH earned 60 All-WHAC and 55 All-Academic honors this year with eight athletes named All-Americans and three named as NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Three Racer coaches picked up Coach of the Year awards in the WHAC with three WHAC Players of the Year and two WHAC Newcomers of the Year.
Looking back, when it came time to bring Athletics back to UNOH after a 20-year hiatus, UNOH president, Dr. Jeffrey Jarvis, had Chris Adams’ name in mind. “After multiple interviews, it became apparent to me that Chris Adams was the person I needed to help me accomplish the goal of bringing Athletics back to UNOH,” said Dr. Jarvis. “It is with his assistance that we have been able to build the athletic programs to the success that they have achieved. I will always appreciate Chris’ efforts to accomplish what we have in the last 15 years.”
Adams was inducted into the Elida Athletic Hall of Fame due to his coaching success at the High School level from 1985-2006, as well as being inducted into the High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020. In June, the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference named Adams the Athletic Director of the Year.
