Matt Roan Expected to be Named JMU Athletic Director, Sources Say

Matt Roan, the current athletic director at Eastern Kentucky University, is poised to take on a new challenge as the next athletic director at James Madison University. According to multiple reports, Roan is expected to replace the retiring Jeff Bourne, who has had a successful two-decade tenure at JMU.

Roan, a Virginia native with a law degree from the University of Kentucky, has had a successful career in athletic administration. He took over as the AD at EKU in January 2020 and has made significant contributions to the department since then. Roan’s accomplishments include hiring coaches, leading the athletic department through the challenges of the pandemic, and increasing contributions to the department by 312% from FY2020 to FY2022.

One of Roan’s notable initiatives at EKU was the creation of the EKU Athletics Change Coalition, which focused on promoting belonging within college athletics. He also oversaw a successful nine-game fall football season in 2020, with two nationally televised games against FBS opponents.

Roan’s emphasis on student-athlete mental health and community service has been evident during his time at EKU. He hired the school’s first Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health in 2023 and has prioritized the well-being of student-athletes both on and off the field.

As Roan prepares to take on the role of athletic director at JMU, he will face new challenges in a rapidly evolving college sports landscape. With changes such as NIL, the transfer portal, and potential athlete compensation reshaping the world of collegiate athletics, Roan will need to navigate JMU through these changes to ensure continued success for the Dukes’ athletic programs. The Board of Visitors is expected to present Roan as the proposed candidate for the AD job later this week, setting the stage for a new chapter in JMU athletics under his leadership.