Carrie Bert Named Interim Director of Athletics

HARRISONBURG, Va. –EMU Athletics has named Carrie S. Bert as interim director of athletics. She will provide a smooth transition between Dave King’s mid-summer departure and the anticipated onboarding of a new director of athletics in the fall. Her duties as interim athletics director began May 9.

Bert has spent the last two years as the assistant director of athletics and Senior Woman Administrator, an NCAA-designated position for the highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office.

“I would like to thank Dave King for his years of leadership and passion for EMU Athletics,” Bert said. “I anticipate a busy but enjoyable transition period where I have the privilege of working alongside Dave ahead of his retirement. Serving our coaches, staff, and student athletes during a leadership change is an honor, and I am committed to nurturing a place where all EMU Royals can thrive.” 

Before joining EMU Athletics as an administrator, Bert coached for nine seasons at EMU. She was head coach of the women’s volleyball team from 2015-19 and assistant coach from 2010-14. Bert’s final team earned the program’s best finish in 18 years at 13-13. It was EMU’s first .500 season since 2001. She finished with a coaching record of 51-85, averaging just over 10 wins per season. The Royals had seen just two double-digit win records in the 11 seasons before Bert took over.

Bert graduated cum laude from EMU in 1997 with a liberal arts degree and elementary school licensure with coaching and music minors. She was also a standout on the volleyball court as a four-year player for the Royals. Bert is fifth in the EMU record books with 293 career blocks. She also finished her career with over 700 kills and was named All-ODAC in 1996.