Alabama hires Dr. Karin Lee as deputy athletic director

Alabama athletics has a new(ish) face in the administration with Dr. Karin Lee returning to the school as a Deputy Director of Athletics, the school announced on Wednesday. Lee, along with being a deputy to athletic director Greg Byrne, also holds the titles of Senior Woman Administrator and Chief Diversity Officer.

Lee comes to Alabama from Ball State, where she spent the last 15 years as an associate, the deputy AD. Prior to her time in Muncie, Indiana, Lee actually worked in the Alabama athletic department. For 10 years from 1997-2007, Lee oversaw the Life Skills program and community outreach.

“I would like to thank Director Greg Byrne for giving me this opportunity, and I look forward to working with the staff, coaches and student-athletes at Alabama,” Lee said in the release. “The University of Alabama provided me the opportunity to start my career and now to return back to where it all began is something I will cherish.”

At Ball State, Lee handled a number of different matters. According to the press release, she supervised six sports, human resources from 2007-15, business operations from 2011-15 and in 2022, and oversaw Title IX. She also worked on gender equity and diversity issues, specifically, and more generally on welfare and development of the student-athletes.

Lee first got her start working in athletics at North Carolina as an academic advising intern for athletes. She earned her undergraduate degree from UNC Greensboro and her master’s degree from North Carolina. She was awarded a PhD in Philosophy from Capella University.

“We are pleased to welcome Karin back to Alabama,” Byrne said in the release. “She impressed us throughout the entire interview process and know she will be an incredible addition to our executive team. Karin comes highly recommended from many industry leaders, which is no surprise after seeing all she’s been involved with and accomplished in her career.”