Rick Willis

Rick Willis brings nearly four decades of experience in higher education leadership, athletics administration, enrollment management, and coaching to his role as a consultant with Daugherty Search Group.

Currently serving as Vice President for Strategic Recruitment at Wartburg College, Rick has spent nearly 30 years at the institution helping navigate the intersection of athletics, enrollment, leadership, facilities, and institutional strategy. Throughout his career, he has served as a cabinet-level administrator, athletic director, head football coach, head baseball coach, and enrollment leader, providing him with a uniquely broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing colleges and universities.

Before joining Wartburg in 1997, Rick spent seven years at Wittenberg University coaching football and baseball while also gaining experience in athletics administration. He began his higher education career as a graduate assistant football coach at the University of Illinois.

Rick’s leadership experience includes oversight of major facilities projects, athletic department growth initiatives, strategic enrollment efforts, organizational change, and leadership development. As Athletic Director at Wartburg, he helped lead one of the nation’s most successful Division III athletic departments while guiding significant growth in student-athlete participation and institutional investment in athletics. As a coach, he led successful football, baseball, and softball programs, becoming one of the few collegiate coaches to guide three different sports to multiple NCAA postseason victories while finishing his football coaching career with a Top 15 winning percentage in NCAA Division III history.

Drawing on experiences as a coach, athletics administrator, enrollment executive, and institutional leader, Rick specializes in leadership recruitment, athletic department assessments, athletics and enrollment strategy, executive coaching, leadership development, and strategic advisory services.

Rick earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics/Business and Education from Cornell College and a master’s degree in Athletic Administration from the University of Illinois.