In the summer of 2021, Rick Willis was promoted to the role of Wartburg's inaugural vice president for strategic recruitment. As the vice president for strategic recruitment, Willis will oversee the Admissions and Financial Aid offices, Strategic Marketing and Communications, the Athletic Department and the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center.
Previously, Willis served as the college's executive director of athletics and wellness for 16 years since January 2005 and the head football coach for 21 seasons. As the athletic director, he oversaw the management of 23 varsity sports, 35 full-time coaches, 25 part-time coaches and more than 600 student-athletes. His duties also included oversight of the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center (The W). He also holds the college's Lowell J. Walker Athletics Directorship Endowed Chair.
Willis also has served on institutional committees focused on retention, marketing and financial aid as well as serving on the Leadership Task Force for the Commission on Mission, which prepared the way for the college's 2010-2020 strategic plan. He also served on the President's Budget Advisory Council and a subcommittee of the college's Higher Learning Commission Year-Four Assurance Argument.
During his time as athletic director, he also led or was involved with planning, design and fundraising for The W and renovation of the football stadium and track, baseball, softball, and soccer facilities, cross country course, and the brand-new Meyer Strength & Conditioning Annex, finished in 2021. Under Willis, Wartburg won 17 consecutive Iowa Conference All-Sports Trophies and 20 student-athletes received NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships.
The longest tenured football head coach and all-time coaching wins leader at Wartburg, Willis compiled a career record of 185-46 in 21 seasons. He owns the 11th highest winning percentage (.801) in the nation among active Division III coaches. Under Willis, the Knights won 11 Iowa Conference Championships with 11 NCAA playoff appearances inclusive of 'Elite Eight' berths in 2008, 2014, and 2017. In 2010, he became the fastest coach to reach 100 wins in Iowa Conference history.
Willis coached 44 All-Americans, 14 Academic All-Americans, six conference MVPs, and a two-time Gagliardi Trophy Finalist in Matt Sacia and a two-time Gagliardi Semifinalist, Logan Schrader. He was named the Conference Coach of the Year in 1999, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017; GTE West Regional Coach of the Year from the American Football Coaches Association in 1999 and 2017; and D3football.com Regional Coach of the Year in 2014.
