José Padilla: The Athletics President
Valparaiso president will retire when contract expires at the end of 2025
From the early days of his presidency when he would run into the Athletics-Recreation Center waving a Valparaiso flag to his most recent days when he was spotted chatting up longtime Valpo institution Dot Nuechterlein in the front row of Friday’s women’s basketball game, there’s no question that José Padilla has been Valparaiso’s Athletics President.
He’s been far more visible at Valparaiso athletic contests than two of his predecessors, Mark Heckler and the late Alan Harre. He’s also presided over some turbulent times when it has come to the Valparaiso athletic department.
Valparaiso announced on Wednesday that Padilla has informed the Board of Directors that he has decided to retire when his contract expires on Dec. 31, 2025.
Board Chair Robert D. Hansen, who also announced his own impending retirement on Wednesday, stated the Board has already begun the work of putting together an official Presidential Search Committee. Valparaiso grad Jon Steinbrecher (‘83) has been elected Chair-Elect and the Mid-American Conference Commissioner will work closely with Vice Chair Julie Winkler to head the search committee according to Hansen’s announcement.
As Padilla prepares to leave office at the end of the calendar year, he’ll close out nearly five years of constant change in the Valparaiso athletics department.