After 18 years at Marietta College, Director of Athletics Larry Hiser announced his retirement Wednesday, January 28. Hiser will serve the College through the academic year and officially retire in May.
"I am beyond blessed to have called 'College Athletics' my job. I have loved every minute guiding, helping and learning from great coaches and student-athletes,” Hiser said. “The experiences I have had at our games and with our alumni and supporters are priceless and rare in this life. I am fortunate to say that was my job.”
During Hiser’s tenure, Marietta teams have captured a pair of NCAA Division III national championships, six Dad Vail Gold Medals, 28 Ohio Athletic Conference championships and one Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference title.
Hiser has overseen the growth of Marietta athletics as the College added five sports under his leadership. Men’s and women’s golf were reinstated as varsity sports in 2017-18, men’s and women’s lacrosse were added in 2018-19, and Esports was elevated to varsity sport status in 2022-23. The Pioneers currently sponsor 21 varsity sports.
Marietta College President Kathleen Dougherty recognized Hiser’s dedication to Marietta College.
“Larry’s work with athletics has been a contributing factor to the growth of Marietta College’s reputation for competitive teams and excellent facilities,” she said. “He has spent many hours at fields and arenas supporting our student athletes and coaches and is a ambassador for the College in our Community. I am grateful for his tireless efforts to support Pioneer athletics.”
With the growth in sport offerings at the College, Hiser spearheaded a major upgrade in the athletic facilities on campus. Over $10.5 million dollars in facility improvements were completed under Hiser’s direction.
Starting with the completion of a $3.6 million dollar Don Drumm Stadium renovation in 2011 and continuing through the $2.3 million dollar reconstruction of Don and Sue Schaly Field and the ongoing $1.4 million dollar softball field project, Hiser has continuously fulfilled the College’s mission to provide first class facilities. Marietta’ College has hosted numerous NCAA and OAC Championship events. The Pioneers hosted the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Ban Johnson Arena has been the site of several NCAA basketball and volleyball early round games, Marietta Field was the site of the 2023 NCAA Regional, and Don and Sue Schaly Field is consistently chosen as the host site for NCAA Regional and Super Regional tournaments.
State of the art FieldTurf playing surfaces have been installed at Don Drumm Stadium (football and men’s lacrosse), Don and Sue Schaly Field (baseball), and Marietta Field (softball, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s lacrosse). In addition, the Don Drumm Stadium track and Fenton Court (men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball) were both resurfaced. The Lindamood/Van Voorhis Boathouse underwent a $1 million dollar renovation, the McCoy Athletic Center was renovated to include two varsity weight rooms and the men’s and women’s soccer offices and locker rooms, and an Esport arena was constructed in the Gathering Place for the College’s newest sport.
Several Pioneer programs have enjoyed unprecedented success during Hiser’s tenure. Men’s Basketball has become a national powerhouse making nine NCAA Tournament appearances including one Final Four, three Elite Eights, and five Sweet 16’s. Baseball won back-to-back national championships in 2011 and 2012; the first Division III school to do so since 1979. Men’s Rowing qualified its full team for the IRA Championships in 2025 for the first time in school history and Football won 13 games in a row for the first time since 1919-1920 and played in its first-ever bowl game following the 2024 season. Ryan Lopez-Jordan turned in back-to-back National Runner-Up finishes in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Pioneer women have been equally impressive under Hiser’s leadership. Women’s Basketball won the program’s first OAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017-18 and has since made three more trips into the NCAA Tournament. Volleyball has won back-to-back OAC titles, the first in program history, and made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Softball made its third NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023 when the Pioneers were chosen as a host site for the Regional Tournament. On the track, Ashley Bault and Laura Pullins both finished as National Runners-Up in pentathlon and high jump, respectively.
In addition to his duties at Marietta, Hiser has served on numerous NCAA and OAC committees, including a stint on the NCAA Division III Rowing National Committee. Away from campus, Hiser has contributed to the Marietta community as a member of the Rotary and Washington County United Way.
"I cannot believe that 32 years have gone by so fast, but it's time to slow it down a bit. Marietta College and the city of Marietta inexplicably grab you and pull you in. They are filled with smart, caring, entrepreneurial people who create a warm, yet exciting environment in which to live,” Hiser concluded. “If I had it to do all over again, I would! Lastly, none of this would have been even remotely possible without the love and support of Susan Chick Hiser. She understands me better than I understand myself!”
Prior to Marietta, Hiser was the Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach at Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. He was a key contributor to the school’s transition from a two-year women’s college to a four-year, co-educational institution. His baseball teams won six conference championships and made four NCAA Regional appearances. Hiser was inducted into the Endicott Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
Hiser earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ohio Northern University, where he was an all-conference shortstop for the Polar Bears. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Physical Education/Athletic Administration from Springfield College in Massachusetts.
A native of Oregon, Ohio, Hiser and his wife Susan have two OAC-graduate children; son Daniel (Marietta ’21) and daughter Allison (Heidelberg ’23).