Ithaca College Athletics

Oversight: Athletics Development, Corporate Sponsorships, NIL Operations, NCAA Compliance, and Risk Management

Sport Administrator: Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Gymnastics, Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Cross Country 

Tyler Heisey was hired as the Associate Director of Athletics on July 10, 2023.

Heisey leads the department’s fundraising and corporate partnership initiatives in collaboration with the Director of Athletics, managing a diverse portfolio of philanthropic relationships. During his time at Ithaca College, he conceptualized and launched the Bomber Club, the College’s first dedicated athletics giving society, creating a new platform for philanthropic support of student-athletes.

Through strategic corporate partnerships, alumni engagement initiatives, and innovative gameday experiences, Heisey has helped expand philanthropic support, strengthen community relationships, and enhance the student-athlete experience. His work includes establishing a partnership with Wegmans to launch the Bomber Refueling Station and expand student-athlete nutrition programming, as well as developing strategic partnerships with Opendorse and Athletic Solutions to enhance name, image, and likeness (NIL) education and opportunities, positioning Ithaca College Athletics as a leader in the NCAA Division III NIL landscape.

In addition to his external relations responsibilities, Heisey serves as the senior compliance administrator for Ithaca College’s 29 NCAA Division III athletic programs, overseeing compliance, eligibility, and education initiatives in accordance with College, Liberty League, and NCAA regulations. He also serves as a primary liaison between Athletics and key campus departments, including Advancement, Student Affairs and Campus Life, Admissions, Student Health, Student Conduct, and the Office of the Dean of Students. Through these collaborative relationships, he helps advance student-athlete well-being and success, strengthen campus engagement, and support the College’s broader strategic priorities.

Heisey arrived at Ithaca College after spending the previous two years at Susquehanna University as the Associate Director of Annual Fundraising for Athletics, as well as an assistant football coach. In that role, Heisey was responsible for creating and executing fundraising plans with a focus on all 23 varsity athletics teams, athletic training and general athletics fund. He also established an annual athletics giving club, a new corporate sponsorship program and developed the first athletics focused day of giving campaign for the college.

Prior to Susquehanna, Heisey was a financial analyst at Dickinson College from January 2021 to May 2022 and served as the Assistant Athletic Director at the Cumberland Valley School District in 2020. Heisey got his start in college athletics working as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas from 2018-2020 in various roles.  

Heisey earned his bachelor's degree in international business and management from Dickinson College in 2018 and received his master's in recreation and sport management from the University of Arkansas in 2020.

As a student-athlete, Heisey was a two-year starter at linebacker for Dickinson after transferring from Division I - Saint Francis University. Heisey was inducted into the Cumberland Valley High School Football Hall of Fame in 2023.