MARIANNA—Dr. Steve Givens has been named Athletic Director at Chipola College. He is only the second full-time athletic director in the history of the college as he replaces Dr. Dale O’Daniel who retired in May.

A native of Tallahassee, Givens played high school football and baseball at Godby High. He was a first team all-state baseball player and moved on to a baseball career at Florida State University from where he played from 1981 to 1983. At FSU, he played third base and all three outfield positions, including two years as a starter.

Prior to coming to Chipola as Coordinator of Physical Education in 2008, Givens served for three years as Athletic Director at North Florida Community College. He also was head baseball coach at North Florida two different times for a total of 11 years. His baseball career also included head coaching jobs at Kennesaw State University and South Georgia College, and as assistant coach at Georgia Tech. Givens worked for six years in the professional ranks as a Scouting Supervisor and Minor League Coach with the Atlanta Braves.

Dr. Givens earned three degrees from Florida State, a B.S. in Criminology, a master’s degree in Sports Management and a Ph.D. in Physical Education.

Givens has two children Bert and Rachel. Bert joined the Chipola baseball team this year after a medical redshirt season at Florida State last year. His daughter Rachel is a senior at Chiles High School in Tallahassee.

As athletic director, Givens has responsibility for Chipola’s five intercollegiate sports teams: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s baseball, women’s softball and women’s cross country. The college also has an award-winning cheerleader program.

Givens says, “Chipola has a great tradition in athletics and an excellent record of preparing student-athletes for the next level. This is evident in our graduation and transfer rates. We are proud of what our students are able to accomplish in the classroom and on the field of play. As athletic director, I want to ensure that our student-athletes have every opportunity to reach their academic and athletic goals.”

In 2007 Chipola College became the first and only Florida College to win State and Regional Championships in four major sports in the same year. That same year, the Chipola Baseball and Softball programs both won National Championships.

Dozens of former Chipola athletes in all four major sports are on university rosters across the country. More than 25 former Indians are active in professional baseball including seven on current Major League Baseball rosters.

Notable alumni of Chipola athletics include 2011 MLB homerun leader Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees catcher Russell Martin and Buck Showalter, manager of the Baltimore Orioles.