LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla announced that longtime Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards has been appointed as Athletic Director Emeritus and will continue to serve as Special Adviser to the Chancellor.
 
"It's been the honor of a lifetime to lead UC San Diego Athletics for the past 25 years," said Edwards. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together—our scholar-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters. As I step into my new role, I look forward to continuing to serve our scholar-athletes and coaches by raising the resources necessary to ensure that the next generation of Tritons has everything they need to thrive in our Division I era."
 
Moving forward, Edwards will continue to provide strategic executive leadership and as a consultant to the Chancellor, while also focusing on key areas such as fundraising and community engagement.

"We are pleased that Edwards has accepted this new role and are grateful for his ongoing commitment to the success of our scholar-athletes, our athletics program, and our institution," Khosla said. "His tireless efforts and unwavering dedication have been instrumental to our recent successes, and we look forward to his continued contributions in this new capacity."

With a focus on fostering a culture of excellence, Edwards will also oversee the development and implementation of fundraising initiatives that promote student-athlete success, fan engagement and community outreach. Edwards will work in coordination and collaboration with the Chancellor, Athletic Director, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life and Advancement team on developing and implementing strategic plans to advance the university's fundraising for the NCAA Division I athletics programs. He will play a vital role as a consultant to the Chancellor, providing guidance and expertise on matters such as Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).

"I am deeply grateful to Earl for his unwavering dedication and leadership as Athletic Director," said men's basketball head coach Clint Allard '08. "His vision and commitment have significantly elevated Triton Athletics throughout his tenure. I look forward to collaborating with him in his new role focused on development, which will be instrumental in driving our continued progress in the current intercollegiate athletics landscape."
 
For the last 25 years, Edwards has been synonymous with UC San Diego Athletics. Edwards accepted the position of Director of Athletics at UC San Diego in March 2000. Since his arrival, UC San Diego has consistently been recognized nationally for its academic and athletic achievements and, in just two decades, has risen from NCAA Division III to Division II to the highest level of competition, Division I.

Under his guidance, the 24-sport program made a very successful transition from the NCAA Division II ranks to Division I. The Triton baseball team was the first to capture a Big West title in 2023. In 2025, both the men's and women's basketball programs won The Big West and competed in the NCAA Tournament in their first year with postseason eligibility – making UC San Diego the first institution in NCAA history to advance to both its men's and women's programs to March Madness in their first year eligible. Academically, UC San Diego's stellar scholar-athlete graduation rate of 93% exceeds any other public Division I institution.

UC San Diego surpassed all expectations at the Division II level, capturing women's soccer national championships in both 2000 and 2001 and the softball national title in 2011. After moving to Division II for the 2000-01 academic year, UC San Diego ranked among the top seven programs in the country in the annual Learfield Directors' Cup standings on 12 different occasions. In 2004 and again in 2007, UC San Diego was the national runner up.

During its time in Division II, UC San Diego also won eight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Commissioners' Cup titles – an award that recognizes the best overall athletics program in the prestigious conference.

Edwards has built several new facilities and enhanced others during his tenure, including a softball stadium, a baseball stadium and clubhouse and a strength and conditioning center. Triton Soccer Stadium was updated with permanent seating and a brand-new playing surface. In 2019, he oversaw a major renovation of LionTree Arena that included new seating areas, a 50' x 15' video scoreboard and a modernized Skybox suite. Canyonview Aquatic Center received a new video scoreboard in 2024.
 
UC San Diego will launch a national search for a Director of Athletics in the coming weeks.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 93 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.