University of Lynchburg

Now in his 11th year as director of athletics at University of Lynchburg, Jon Waters continues to lead the Hornets athletic department to new heights.

Lynchburg has added to its extensive list of championships in Waters’ tenure with two NCAA Division III titles -- women’s soccer in 2014 and baseball in 2023 -- three NCEA single-discipline national championships, 62 Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships, and 53 NCAA tournament appearances.

During Waters' administration, Hornet athletes have piled up 103 All-American honors, 19 CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-America awards, over 12 ODAC scholar-athlete of the year accolades, and three NCAA postgraduate scholarships.

He spearheaded the expansion of Lynchburg’s athletic opportunities, adding women’s golf and men’s and women’s swimming to the department, as well as the equestrian program’s expansion to National Collegiate Equestrian Association membership while maintaining the department’s tradition of academic excellence. Under his tutelage, Lynchburg has also added women's beach volleyball, men's volleyball and men's wrestling.

Waters’ leadership is felt around the country as well. He is the South Atlantic Regional Advisory Committee’s men’s soccer chairman and has championed the addition of equestrian to the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women list.

On campus, Waters’ direction helped the athletic department’s annual fundraising efforts more than quadruple since his arrival in 2014. His efforts have helped Lynchburg elevate numerous assistant coaching positions to full-time, developed the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network’s into one of Division III’s leaders in digital media and live-streaming, and expanded student-athlete support services in the areas of athletic training, strength & conditioning, and academic support offerings.

He continues intrepid work to enhance Lynchburg’s athletic facilities under the University’s larger umbrella of its Vision 2020+ strategic plan.

Prior to his arrival at Lynchburg in July 2014, Waters served as the senior associate director of athletics at Christopher Newport University since 2010, and took over as interim athletic director in the summer of 2012 for one year. He helped the Captains’ athletic development staff cultivate sponsorships, licensing and facility rentals and oversaw academic services and student success, including academic compliance.

As a student-athlete at CNU, Waters was a part of the 1990-91 men’s basketball team that advanced to the NCAA tournament’s third round for the first time in school history. 

After his playing days, Waters joined the staff as an assistant coach and spent 19 seasons on the bench. The Captains posted an overall record of 379-145 during that time, and along the way, CNU played in 13 NCAA tournaments, reaching the national quarterfinals in 2000-01. 

During the 2011-12 academic year, he served as the interim head women's basketball coach, leading the team to a 22-6 record and regular-season conference championship.

Waters earned a bachelor's degree in leisure studies and physical education from Christopher Newport in 1991. He received his master's in educational administration from George Washington University in 1998.
He lives in Forest with his wife, Susan, and their children, Gracie and Jack.

--LYN--