Salem State’s Shea to call it a day as AD

Salem State athletic director Tim Shea will step down in June after 13 years as head of the university’s athletic department. SSU president Patricia Maguire Meservey made the announcement Monday.Shea, who has spent the last 33 years at Salem State, took over as the full-time athletic director in 2002, replacing the late John Galaris. During his tenure, the university saw the addition of men’s and women’s lacrosse and women’s ice hockey, which will start in 2015. Also under his watch, the school’s outdoor facilities have seen significant upgrades and the new Gassett Fitness Center opened.Shea is probably best known, however, for his success as coach of the Salem State women’s basketball team. He led the Lady Vikings to 24 NCAA Division III post-season appearances including 14 in a row between 1992-2006. He retired from coaching in 2011, but not before posting a 649-179 record (he’s one of the all-time leaders in wins in NCAA Div. III women’s basketball). His most successful season was in 1985-1986 when he led the team to the university’s first national championship.Despite all his success in coaching, said he has enjoyed his role as athletic director immensely.”When I took the athletic director’s role, I didn’t think I would enjoy that aspect of the business as much as I did, but I did. It brought me a lot of enjoyment,” Shea said. “I’ve enjoyed the role of athletic director as much as coaching.”Shea said he has no big plans in the works after he retires, but he feels like the time is right.”It’s time to get some younger blood in there,” Shea said. “It time to re-energize, see what someone else can do. I’ve had a very long and fortunate career at Salem State, but I think it’s time for someone else to come in and put their stamp on it.”Shea said he’s thrilled with the success of the new fitness center that opened up just shy of a year ago.”We have an undergraduate population of just under 7,000 and 4,000 of those have joined as members,” he said, adding that the intramural program has also grown tremendously.”It’s neat to see those kids who may not have the skill to play on a collegiate team have the ability to come in and belong to a first class fitness club.”Shea said the baseball field that was build on an old landfill that was part of the Sylvania plant was also a great addition to the university.Shea was a point guard for Assumption College from 1968-1972. He earned an undergraduate degree in history and a master’s in education administration from Salem State. He also coached the Salem High girls varsity team from 1968-1971, where he compiled a 70-3 record and won a Division 1 station title.