ROLLA, Mo. – Melissa Ringhausen is in her fifth year as the director of athletics at Missouri S&T, as she began her duties on July 13, 2020.
Ringhausen, who previously served as the associate director of athletics at McKendree University and says she appreciates the academic commitment of S&T's student-athletes and the university's reputation for educational excellence.
"The attitude toward excellence resonates throughout the campus," says Ringhausen. "I am committed to representing the values of Missouri S&T while developing student-athletes and providing a great experience for them. Academics will always be the top priority, but together, we will continue to develop the Missouri S&T brand and compete for championships."
Ringhausen became associate director of athletics at McKendree in 2013, and she previously served the university as head women's basketball coach from 1997 to 2015. In that role, she managed 34 sports and more than 875 student-athletes, represents McKendree in the GLVC and ensures eligibility and compliance with NCAA rules. Ringhausen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Ottawa University in 1994 and a Master of Science degree in education from University of Kansas in 1996.
Ringhausen and her husband, Lance, have one daughter, Lindy. The family resides in Rolla.
Missouri S&T's athletic programs include 17 sports and over 450 student-athletes and in the 2023-24 academic year, S&T posted its highest number of Academic All-GLVC selections and had its third-highest finish ever in the Learfield Director's Cup standings. The intramural program at S&T is also popular with students with more than 5,000 students participating every year, as are the recreation center facilities. In 2019, S&T completed a renovation of the fitness center, which added more than 10,000 square feet and doubled the number of fitness machines.
