Lonny Allen has resigned as Vice President of Athletics at Tiffin University.
Allen served as Athletic Director at Tiffin University since 2008 after serving as Assistant Athletic Director, Head Baseball Coach, and Assistant Baseball Coach for the Dragons. Allen was named the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Athletics Director of the Year in 2021, one of just four Division II athletic directors to receive the distinction. He also served on the NCAA D2 Football Committee, the NACDA D2 Athletic Directors Association (ADA) Board and the D2 women’s lacrosse Coaches Connection Connector.
Under his direction, Tiffin University Athletics has grown as large as 26 varsity sports including nationally-ranked teams in football, men’s soccer, men’s wrestling, indoor and outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, women’s wrestling and men’s and women’s tennis. Allen has been at the forefront of continuing the growth of the department in Division II.
During his tenure, the athletics program has made many positive additions, such as the development of the Heminger Center, a 3.5-acre indoor practice and recreation center that also includes an indoor track and field complex, along with new facilities for the golf and wrestling programs. In 2017, Tiffin University added a state-of-the-art esports facility. In 2018 the Adelsperger Wrestling Complex was dedicated. Additions continued throughout 2022-23 as a full artificial turf field was added to the Paradiso Athletic Complex to host home men’s and women’s lacrosse contests.
Tiffin University has captured two NCAA National Championships during Allen’s tenure as Athletic Director with Men’s Indoor Track and Field in 2015-16 and 2016-17. In addition, the Dragons have captured 20 individual national championships since 2008. In addition, the Dragons have combined to make 62 NCAA postseason appearances in 13 different sports in the last 14 years.
Allen has been instrumental in improving all of Tiffin’s facilities across the board. Amongst the changes are: upgrades to the baseball facility, including new offices and lounge area above the home dugout; a brand-new clubhouse attached to the home dugout; stadium seating behind home plate, and a fully functioning press box. Additions to the soccer facility at the Paradiso Athletic Complex include stadium seating, a fence enclosing the facility, press box and dugouts for the home and opposing team; as well as softball facility improvements that include the addition of a press box, stadium seating, brand new backstop and the addition of batting cages.
In addition to the various playing facilities, Allen has enhanced the Hanson Physical Fitness Center with the remodeling of the weight room, addition of a cardio room, and the addition of an athletic training facility. He also left his mark on the Tiffin University tennis program as well with the resurfacing of the courts and the addition of stadium seating.
The Gillmor Student Center and Old Fort Bank Court, where the Dragon basketball and volleyball teams play their home events, also benefited from Allen’s drive to improve all athletic venues. Recent upgrades include new scoreboards, court resurfacing, the remodeling of both player and officials’ locker rooms, remodeling of coaches’ offices, construction of storage space, and the addition of a concession area.
Allen has also overseen the addition of seven new varsity sports at TU: men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s wrestling, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and stunt.
Prior to becoming Vice President for Athletics, Allen coached the Tiffin baseball squad for 21 seasons before stepping aside after the 2012 season. Counting his days as a student-athlete for the Dragons, he had been associated with the program for over 32 years. He accumulated 444 career victories on the diamond.
“I want to thank Tiffin University and its Athletic Department, coaches, and staff for an amazing 32 years,” said Allen. “I come from a generation that was asked to leave things better than when we got there, and I think I did that. I want to thank Jeremy Croy, Rudy Brownell, Shane O’Donnell, Lucas Phillips and especially Kelly Daniel for always having Tiffin University Athletics and its student-athletes’ best interests in mind. It is truly humbling that 17 years ago we weren’t even thinking about national championships and now, if that isn’t the end result, there is a feeling of disappointment. I look forward to following Dragons athletics and wish our coaches, staff and student-athletes the best of luck. Go Dragons!”