Joe Alleva resigned from his post as Duke University's Director of Athletics on Friday to accept a similar position at LSU.
Alleva spent 32 total years at Duke, including the past 10 as the school's athletic director.
"After deliberating with my family and several colleagues here at Duke, I have decided to accept the Director of Athletics position at Louisiana State University," Alleva said. "For over 30 years, I have committed myself to Duke University, and for the past 10, I have been fortunate to lead one of the nation's best departments of athletics. I am appreciative of my time at Duke, and even more grateful for the relationships I have forged while working here, particularly in the Department of Athletics. I hope that Duke continues to enjoy the success it has maintained for so many years."
Duke President Richard H. Brodhead expressed his appreciation for Alleva's contributions to Duke.
"I am grateful to Joe Alleva for his many years of service to Duke University," Brodhead said. "Duke athletics sets an example of success and integrity of the highest order, and Joe has played a key role in achieving these results. I know there are very few opportunities that could lure him away from Duke. Joe and his family have our appreciation for their many contributions to the Duke community, and our best wishes for success at LSU."
Duke athletics flourished under Alleva's direction.
Six Duke teams have won national championships since his appointment as director of athletics, and 44 Blue Devil teams notched ACC championships - -- the second-highest total among ACC schools since 1997-98.
Simultaneously, Duke's graduation rates for its student-athletes have ranked among the best in the nation, with the most recent Federal Graduation Rate at 91 percent. In 2007, Duke finished first among league schools on the ACC Academic Honor Roll for the 20th consecutive year.
The Blue Devils finished fifth in the 2005 Division I Directors' Cup, which rates athletics departments nationwide based on the success of its teams. Duke followed that up with an eighth-place finish in 2006 and an 11th-place showing in 2007.
In the 2007, National Collegiate Scouting Association Power Rankings that combine a school's Directors' Cup finish, its athletic graduation rates and its academic ranking in U.S. News and World Report, Duke was the top-ranked Division I school in the nation. Duke also finished first in this listing in both 2005 and 2006 and second in 2004.
Additionally, Duke student-athletes have reached out to the local community through several programs, such as Duke's award-winning Verizon Read with the Blue Devils that assists Durham teachers by providing reading incentives to third and fourth graders. In 2006-07, Duke student-athletes volunteered nearly 3,000 community outreach hours.
In 10 years, Alleva and his fundraising team raised nearly $200 million in gifts and funded more than $85 million in new facilities or renovation. Annual giving to the Iron Dukes has increased 50 percent since 2000, including a record $11 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007.
Alleva has been active on the national collegiate athletics scene, serving on the Football Bowl Certification Committee and the Gatorade Advisory Board. He sits on ACC committees on Finance, Infractions and Penalties, Television (chair), Football, and Men's Basketball. At Duke, Alleva is part of the Undergraduate Leadership Group, the Committee on Undergraduate Affairs and the University Athletic Council. Additionally, he recently completed his service on the NCAA Division 1 Championships/Competition Cabinet.
A native of Suffern, N.Y., Alleva joined the athletics staff in 1980 and was named assistant director of athletics in July 1986. He has also served as assistant director of the Iron Dukes during his tenure. In 1987, Alleva was promoted to associate director of athletics. From the mid-1980s until 1998, he also served as the athletics business manager during a time of rapid growth.
Alleva played football and baseball at Lehigh University and was football captain in 1974. He received his bachelor's degree in 1975 and served as a graduate assistant football coach for Lehigh, earning an MBA in 1976. Alleva joined Duke in 1976 working for the vice president for business and finance.
He also has played a key role in Durham's community sports scene. He started Little League Baseball in Durham more than 15 years ago and an American Legion baseball program in the area. Alleva is a member of the North Carolina American Legion Hall of Fame, Suffern H.S. Hall of Fame and the Rockland County Hall of Fame.
Alleva and his wife, Annie, have two sons, J.D. (Duke, ‘01) and Jeff (Duke, ‘03), and a daughter, Jenny (Duke, ‘07), all of whom played sports at Duke.