Lynchburg, Va. -- It is with a heavy heart that the University of Lynchburg mourns the passing of Dan Wooldridge, a distinguished Lynchburg alumnus and the first commissioner of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. He passed away on Tuesday, August 20, at the age of 90.

Wooldridge, an athletics Hall of Fame inductee, was a member of the baseball program during his time at Lynchburg. After graduating, he fostered the growth of the ODAC from its inception in the 1976-77 academic year through 21 years of service upon his retirement in March 1997. His commitment to Division III and non-scholarship athletics left an indelible mark on the collegiate athletics community.

Official Release from ODAC: Remembering Dan Wooldridge: First Commissioner of the ODAC

Dan Wooldridge's legacy is one of exemplary service and commitment to the principles of collegiate athletics. His contributions to the ODAC and the Division III community as a whole will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those he touched throughout his history.

Funeral services for Dan and Nancy Wooldridge, who passed during the COVID pandemic, will be held on Saturday, August 31, at Roanoke College Chapel. Visitation is from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. ET with the service following at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Below is a personal statement from ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston.

"The conference and all who knew Dan are mourning his death. He was a foundational pillar in so many areas.

Dan was an eternal optimist. He had the unique ability to lead groups of people to do tough things. When the league was founded, it needed a spark. Dan provided the framework and ideas to form the ODAC. When the City of Salem was considering hosting NCAA Division III Championships, Dan was there to spur the conversation and help the city's leaders to lean in on its initial Stagg Bowl bid. When he was ready to pass the torch and retire as the ODAC Commissioner, Dan stood behind me and served as an amazing mentor during our transition.

People, from all walks of life, have a common theme about Dan. They say he gave them their first chance at officiating, athletics administration, insurance, etc. I'm deeply thankful for my chance. I know Salem is thankful for its championship run of 100+ NCAA events and the ODAC continues today due in part to Dan's vision and passionate stewardship.

Today we honor the ODAC's greatest fan who will always have a seat at the end of the press table for its conference basketball championships. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan's family and friends during this difficult time."

--- Brad Bankston, ODAC Commissioner