Nina King is to be Duke’s next athletics director, the school announced Wednesday.
King, who joined Duke’s athletic department in September 2008 and serves as senior deputy director of athletics, will be promoted to replace Kevin White, who is retiring after 13 years as the school’s AD.
Excited to announce Nina King (@ninaking22) as the eighth Vice President & Director of Athletics in @DukeU history!#GoDuke 🔵😈 pic.twitter.com/bVpe77Tf8x
— Duke Athletics (@DukeATHLETICS) May 19, 2021
She becomes just the eighth athletic director in the school’s history, as well as the first female athletic director. Additionally, King will become just the sixth female athletics director at a Power Five Conference school and just the third woman of color.
“In her time at Duke, Nina has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, earning the esteem of our coaches, student-athletes, athletics staff and colleagues in athletics departments across the country,” Duke president Vincent Price said in a statement. “Nina is recognized as a committed advocate for inclusive excellence in collegiate athletics, and she has represented Duke on committees of the NCAA, ACC and many other national organizations. I can imagine no better person to carry on Kevin White’s exceptional record at Duke.”
King brings with her experience serving as Duke’s chief operating officer, overseeing legal affairs, human resources, strategic planning and more. Additionally, she chaired the Division I women’s basketball committee last season.
The ACC now holds three of the six female athletic directors amongst the Power Five Conferences.