Rockhurst University Athletics

Kristy Bayer was named the Director of Athletics at Rockhurst University in July 2021.

Bayer has overseen the growth of athletics at Rockhurst with the addition of seven new athletic programs and developing an Athletics Facility Master Plan. Rockhurst saw the addition of an athletic performance program, including new staff and weight room enhancements. She also helped secure sports medicine partnerships with Sano Orthopedics and F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic. 

Bayer helped start the Kansas City Crown rivalry with William Jewell, signed a deal with BSN Nike, spearheaded a corporate sponsorship program, partnered with Hometown Ticketing for improved ticket sales, guided the fan enhancements inside Mason-Halpin Field House, and led the way in the Hawks continuing to receive the Division II Presidents' Award of Excellence in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Rockhurst was also awarded the NCAA DII Award of Excellence for the GLVC in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 for their community engagement efforts. In 2023, Rockhurst Athletics underwent a new logo launch and re-brand efforts. This past year, Bayer led the effort for turf replacements and new LED lighting at Bourke Field.

Bayer serves on the GLVC Steering Committee and GLVC Awards Committee, in addition serving on the Business of Small College Athletics Executive Board. She also participated as a mentor in the National Association of College Directors Athletics (NACDA) DII ADA Mentor Program. Bayer was named to the NCAA DII Management Council in 2024.

Prior to coming to Rockhurst, Bayer was the deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator at Emporia State University from 2017 to 2021.

A 2020 graduate of the NCAA Pathway Program, a selective training opportunity for emerging leaders, Bayer held a number of leadership positions, including serving on the NCAA Championships Committee, and the NCAA Board of Governors Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Equity. At ESU, Bayer was a member of the Athletics Advisory Board and the University Diversity and Inclusion Alliance.

Bayer spent 14 years at Arkansas Tech University as the associate athletic director/senior woman administrator and head coach of the volleyball team. She had a career coaching record of 364-132 and won seven conference tournament or regular season titles at ATU. In her final season, Bayer was named the AVCA Central Region Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading ATU to a 35-1 record in 2017. She was a five-time Conference Coach of the Year honoree.

Bayer is active in Women Leaders in Sports (WLS), the NACDA and the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). Bayer is a longtime Rotarian and serves on the Downtown Kansas City Rotary Board of Directors.

A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Bayer was a four-year starter on the GVSU volleyball team and still holds the school record for career assists with 5,441 from 1997-2000. An All-American selection her senior season, the former Kristy Kale was inducted into the Grand Valley State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Bayer holds a Master of Education in higher education from GVSU. She is a native of Jackson, Michigan.