Courtesy of Delaware State Athletic Media Relations
DOVER, Del., April 1, 2021 – A veteran head coach, director and vice president across 38 years and six institutions, Delaware State University Director of Athletics Dr. D. Scott Gines on Thursday announced his retirement from collegiate athletics.
Gines' career is characterized by rebuilding programs, departments and divisions.
His journey began in 1987 as the nation's youngest NCAA Division I head baseball coach, and for 13 years Gines led and rebuilt two losing programs, departing as each institution's all-time baseball wins leader. In sum, Gines' coaching career included 31 professional draft and free agent selections, four MLB players, and 11 times Gines' former assistant coaches and players led NCAA Division I baseball programs.
An athletics administrator who ascended from the coaching ranks, Gines completes a 21-year career that includes four terms as Director of Athletics and two vice presidencies. Recognized for his work in strategic, gender equity and financial planning, Gines' developed sustainable multi-million dollar pro forma budgets, retired debt service, developed and elevated revenue sources, launched successful campaigns and advanced giving initiatives while completing over $17 million in new facility constructions and upgrades across four institutions.
Passionately embracing college towns as a civic leader, Gines' departments on multiple occasions led NCAA institutions in Community Engagement Ideas that Work, finished in the National Top 10 in average per game football attendance, and hosted NCAA post-season playoff, Regional, and National Championship competitions. Competitive successes during Gines' NCAA administrative career included 31 post-season appearances, 10 National Top 10 end-of-year finishes, 25 Individual National Champions, two team sport National Runner-Up and two National Champions. Gines also served five years in the NAIA and that period featured 38 All-Americans and 64 Academic All-Americans, as well as three Elite 8, and two Final Four appearances. In 2001, the NAIA recognized Gines' DWU Athletics Department as the Nation's best introduction of the Champions of Character initiative.
Recently recognized as a Most Influential Delawarean for his leadership related to department-wide academic performance and retention improvements, Gines completes a three-year term at Delaware State in which the Athletics Department achieved 3.00 cumulative grade point averages over four consecutive semesters. During that period, Gines' reorganized the department, increased home competitions to record totals, completed multiple conference benchmarking studies, saw corporate revenues increase 300% with the launch of Hornets' Sport Properties, and completed an 11-chapter gender equity plan. DSU women's student-athlete participation increased 46% from 2018-19, and the department recently introduced its 13th women's sport program. On a short list, Gines is one of very few NCAA leaders to launch and/or lead five different NCAA emerging women's sport programs across multiple universities.
"I grew up in a small college town, the son of an institutional fund raiser, and next door to a head coach. If my Dad were alive, he would say, 'Scott dreamed of being a college head coach as a little boy, and he did it'. That's only partially true. By God's grace the opportunities unfolded, and I am eternally grateful – no one does it alone." Gines said. "When I interviewed at DSU I said, 'we're going to run to people first – our staff and student-athletes,' and that every sport is 'the' sport. Together we did those things and re-established a firm foundation for comprehensive success."
Gines concluded, "I am grateful, but it's time. I coached over 600 games, directed nearly 100 sessions of camp, and navigated thousands of competitions administratively. The faithful heroes are my wife Ginger, our adult children, and our granddaughters - I look forward to how God wants to expand our territory in the next chapter of our life."