FLC Athletics welcomes Aaron Champenoy as new Assistant AD-External Relations

7/2/2021 12:38:00 PM

By: David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

DURANGO, Colorado — Fort Lewis College Athletics is pleased to announce a familiar face to the Durango community will be transitioning back to the collegiate level as Aaron Champenoy has been tabbed the college's next Assistant Athletic Director for External Relations, effective immediately.

Champenoy, who has spent the last three seasons as the Athletic Director for Durango High School, brings a wealth of experience to the Skyhawks, having worked in an athletics administrative role at the collegiate or high school level for 18 years.

"I am extremely excited to be at Fort Lewis College and back in the world of college athletics," Champenoy said. "I'd like to thank Brandon Leimbach and President Stritikus for this opportunity and I look forward to joining the Skyhawks team as we help take the athletic department to new heights."

During his three years with DHS, Champenoy's responsibilities included but were not limited to hiring and supervising personnel, managing budgets, promoting events, digital ticketing, scheduling and approving travel, as well as spearheading the fundraising efforts for the entire department.

Champenoy helped raise over $75,000 dollars for DHS Athletics during the 2019-20 school year while adding 25 new members to the Demon Elite Club for local donors.

The Demons also shined, athletically, during Champenoy's tenure as DHS were consistent state tournament qualifiers in football, boys and girls soccer, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, cross country, track, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls golf and skiing. The success was punctuated in 2020 when DHS brought home its first outright CHSAA State Football Championship with an undefeated season.

"Aaron brings a strong skill set to our FLC Athletics administrative team. He has been a national championship soccer coach at the collegiate level, he has been a successful Athletic Director at the high school level and possesses an authentic passion for creating a positive experience for all Skyhawks student-athletes," said FLC Director of Athletics, Brandon Leimbach. "His personal and professional networks throughout Durango is impressive, coupled with his ability to create meaningful relationships and generate revenue to enhance our 14 NCAA Division II varsity programs, is going to be a game-changer for our department."

Prior to coming to Durango, Champenoy spent two seasons as the Head Men's Soccer Coach at Hastings College; a NAIA powerhouse that finished 43-3-2 — the best two-year stretch for any NAIA program in the nation at the time — highlighted by a 2016 National Championship.

The native of Omaha, Nebraska also boasts a successful coaching stop at the University of St. Thomas-Texas for nine seasons, bringing his career coaching record to 175-91-19.

Champenoy success on the pitch dates back to his time as a student-athlete at Bellevue University where he was an NAIA All-American center back, a two-time MCAC First-Team selection, and the 2001 Bellevue Male Athlete of the Year.

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