Dave Eavenson assumed the role of Vice President and Director of Athletics in July of 2017, following a four-year stint as the assistant director of athletics. Prior to serving in an administrative capacity, Eavenson served as MU's associate head football coach for 12 years, and two seasons as the head football coach at Methodist.
Eavenson started his coaching career, which would span 20 years, in 1993. He began his career as a student assistant coach at Methodist working with the wide receivers.
Following three seasons at Methodist, Eavenson moved on to Brockport State University in New York as a graduate assistant football coach working with the defensive backs. He was later promoted to full time assistant and became the recruiting coordinator/home event manager for the athletic department and later was named defensive coordinator prior to returning to Methodist in 2000.
Since returning to his alma mater, Eavenson has served as the associate head football coach as well as other areas in the football program through the years. Those areas include, offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, travel coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator as well as quarterbacks coach and running backs coach. Eavenson developed the Monarchs into one of the top offensive teams in the USA South Athletic Conference/Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference over the years. In 2005, Methodist produced 2,000 yards rushing in a season for the third straight year, and the Monarchs set individual records for single-season yards rushing, passing completions and passing yards. Throughout Eavenson’s tenure, the Monarch offense ranked consistently in the upper tier of the conference, and during the 2003 season it spent much of the season ranked in the Top 15 in the nation in rushing offense.
Eavenson was named the third head football coach in school history in November 2010 taking over for long time Head Coach and mentor Jim Sypult. In his first year as head coach the team won the North Carolina State Championship beating all Division III teams in the state of North Carolina. While Eavenson was at the helm as head coach, the Monarchs finished the 2012 season at 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the USA South, winning each of their final three games, including two in overtime and a come-from-behind, 30-29, win over conference champion Christopher Newport in the season finale. The five wins marked the most in a single season for Methodist since 2005, when the Monarchs finished 8-2. When the USA South Athletic Conference announced its 2012 All-Conference teams, 13 MU players football players were honored by the Conference, which were the most recognitions the team had received since 2005. Eavenson was also selected as the South Team head coach of the Division III All Star Classic in Salem, Va., in December 2012. The south team won the game 37-21, which was the first time the South team had ever won the contest.
As Assistant Director of Athletics, Eavenson assisted with the management of 20 NCAA Division III athletic teams. His responsibilities included the oversight of student-athlete recruitment and compliance duties, team travel, advisor for Student Athlete Advisory Committee, home event management, director of football operations, oversight of the athletic fields and other athletic affairs.
A native of Carlisle, Pa., Eavenson received his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in professional golf management from Methodist University in 1996, and his master’s degree in education/physical education with a concentration in athletic administration from Brockport State University in 1999. Eavenson and his wife Jennifer, who is a 1995 graduate of Methodist, have a son, Tyler, and daughter, Sarah.
