Dr. Tim Coffey, Longwood University Assistant Professor and Program Director of Kinesiology, was appointed Faculty Athletics Representative in the 2018-19 academic year.
Coffey's role as Longwood's FAR is multi-faceted and structured at the national level by the NCAA. As FAR, his duties are to ensure the academic integrity of the intercollegiate athletics program; facilitate institutional control of the athletics department; serve as a liaison and campus representative with the NCAA membership services staff; enhance the student-athlete experience; and chair Longwood's Intercollegiate Athletics Council.
A member of Longwood's faculty, Coffey took over the post for Dr. Consuelo Alvarez, who served as Longwood's faculty athletics representative for nine years before moving into the role of Faculty Athletics Representative Emerita in August, 2018.
Coffey has a diverse and extensive resume in higher education, spending the early portion of his career in student affairs before receiving his Ph.D. in rehabilitation and movement sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University in May, 2015. He started his academic career at Simon's Rock College of Bard and transferred after two years to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he earned a bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies combining mechanical engineering and biology. He went on to earn his master's from Texas Tech University in physical education: biomechanics.
Following the completion of his doctorate at VCU, Coffey transitioned into a faculty role at Longwood, first as a visiting assistant professor of exercise science in 2015-16 and then as an assistant professor of kinesiology beginning in August, 2016. He currently serves as the Kinesiology Program Coordinator at Longwood, overseeing the program's national accreditation and course offerings, and teaches courses in biomechanics, health and fitness management, and citizen leadership through sport and exercise.
Additionally, Coffey has immersed himself in numerous Longwood initiatives as an advisor and guest presenter, including several within the athletics department. Among those roles have been as a guest speaker for the Longwood athletics' "Lancer Leadership" program, Longwood Mountain Lake Leadership conference, the Longwood Social Justice Summit, Student Citizenship Summit, National Biomechanics Day, and participation in the university's student conduct and disciplinary boards.
A native of Fishersville, Va., Coffey has authored and co-authored a number of published papers and delivered numerous presentations across the country, including multiple student poster presentations in 2018 alone. The focus of his published and presented work has ranged from gait, jumping and landing mechanics, to the use of strength and conditioning facilities at the high school level.
That work has been featured in publications such as "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise" and "Gait and Posture," as well as at numerous professional gatherings, including the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Conference, Association of College and University Housing Officers International, and the Association of Student Conduct Administration. Most recently, he mentored a pair of student poster presentations at the 2018 Southeast American College of Sports and Medicine Conference in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Coffey has produced those findings both as a professor of exercise science and a student affairs professional, weaving the thread of academic research throughout a career that has seen him impact college campuses since he served as assistant area coordinator at Texas Tech University beginning in July, 2000.
From his beginnings at Texas Tech in residence life overseeing a number of on campus residence halls, Coffey rose through the ranks of residence life and student conduct and academic integrity at neighboring VCU. He joined the Rams' residence life and housing staff in July of 2003, serving as Complex Manager/Coordinator for Residence Education from 2003-09 and Coordinator for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity from 2009-15. In those roles, Coffey served the university by overseeing various elements of campus residence life, as well as both investigating and hearing cases of alleged violations of the VCU Student Code of Conduct, the VCU Honor System and Title IX allegations.
Coffey has maintained that commitment to student success and the foundations of the student experience at Longwood, taking part in numerous initiatives outside of his teaching duties. Upon joining Longwood in 2015, he brought a program he developed at VCU, "Formulate the Why," an interactive program for student leaders and student-athletes designed to address areas of personal ethics, decision-making and goal-setting. He has delivered that presentation at Longwood and other Division I campuses, adjusting the content of the program for various settings ranging from social justice, leadership and citizenship.
