Mark Whitworth (left) will now serve as Asbury’s senior vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff. Current associate athletics director and head men’s soccer coach Ben Andrews (right) has been promoted to the 10th director of athletics in Asbury Athletics history.
WILMORE, Ky. – After eight impactful years leading the growth and vision of Asbury University Athletics, Mark Whitworth will transition from his role as vice president for intercollegiate athletics and university communications to senior vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, while current Associate Athletics Director Ben Andrews has been named the new director of athletics.
Effective June 1, Whitworth will transition into a new role as senior vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff while working closely with Asbury President Kevin Brown and the Executive Cabinet. Whitworth will help advance several institutionwide priorities and strategic projects that are important to Asbury’s future.
During his tenure, Mark has provided exceptional leadership for TeamAU, helped secure significant philanthropic support for athletics and strengthened our commitment to academic and athletic excellence.”
Whitworth has faithfully served Asbury University as vice president for athletics and university communications and, more recently, has taken on greater contractual oversight for key projects within athletics and the university. He has guided important facility enhancements, including the construction of the Gray Outdoor Venue, and played a key role in Asbury’s historic transition to NCAA Division III and the Collegiate Conference of the South.
As part of this transition, several areas of institutional oversight will align under Whitworth’s leadership, including intercollegiate athletics, information technology, facilities services and capital construction, and auxiliary services.
I am honored to assist Dr. Brown in achieving his vision for Asbury University. We are also very fortunate to have Ben Andrews step into the director of athletics role. He is an extremely gifted leader and has experienced TeamAU as a student-athlete, coach and administrator. He has earned the respect and admiration of our campus community, conference membership and NCAA and NCCAA colleagues. Most importantly, he is committed to using the platform of college athletics to glorify God.”
Since June 2019, Andrews has served as associate athletics director. He has extensive experience in facilities management and was instrumental in AU’s transition to NCAA Division III, leading AU’s membership application process. In 2022, Andrews became Asbury’s NCAA compliance coordinator and has been responsible for educating the TeamAU staff and monitoring the institution’s adherence to NCAA guidelines.
Andrews, who actively teaches classes in the Shaw School of Sciences Exercise Science Department, earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Asbury in 2006 and a master’s degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan in 2009. Most recently, he served as meet director for the 2026 NCCAA Track and Field National Championship hosted at AU’s Gray Outdoor Venue May 6-8.
What an honor and privilege it is to have the opportunity to serve the university in this capacity. I’m grateful to Dr. Brown and Mark Whitworth for their vision and support as we enter this exciting time on campus and in our department. TeamAU has incredible momentum right now thanks to God’s faithfulness and the amazing work of our coaches, staff and student-athletes.”
“Outside of being Emily’s husband and Cooper and Griffin’s dad, the last 20 years of serving as a coach for the men’s soccer team here at AU has been the honor of my life. I’ve seen friends come together, players grow and develop on the field, and hearts reached due to the platform that Asbury provides us to use college athletics to glorify God.”
“I cannot wait to see how God uses this department, on and off the playing field and court, in the coming months and years. Go Eagles!”
Andrews began his coaching career with the Eagles as an assistant men’s soccer coach from 2006-10 and then took over the head coaching duties in the spring of 2010. During the 2024 season, Andrews became AU’s all-time winningest men’s soccer coach and currently has 140 career victories. He also served as the Luce Center supervisor from 2007-10.
The Deltona, Fla., native came to Asbury as a men’s soccer student-athlete from 2003-06. He was a four-year starter and two-year captain on the team. His parents, wife Emily, and four siblings are also Asbury alumni.
Andrews will assume director of athletics duties effective June 1.
TeamAU sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, as well as cheerleading and six club sports representing more than 350 student-athletes. Men’s sports include: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Women’s sports include: basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
Asbury competes as a member of the NCAA Division III, the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS), and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).
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