Chad Briscoe is prepared to begin his 17th season as the Director of Athletics at Grace College.
Briscoe's energetic vision of the future has guided Grace Athletics to unparalleled success across the school's varsity programs. His desire to pursue Christ-like excellence through the realm of athletics has led many of Grace's teams to some of their best seasons ever -- most notably with 20 national championships since 2019. Grace had two national titles in school history prior to Briscoe's arrival; since he has arrived, Grace has added national championships in 10 different sports (women's golf, men's soccer, men's tennis, men's track and field, women's track and field, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s soccer, volleyball, women's basketball).
At the NCCAA level, Grace has experienced tremendous success. For four straight years, Grace was given the NCCAA Presidential Award (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) as the most outstanding athletic department during the school year.
Under Briscoe’s guidance, student-athlete aid at Grace increased substantially. Along with major stadium projects, he has helped oversee addition of pristine team rooms for multiple varsity programs and a remodeled coaches’ office at the Gordon Recreation Center. In the fall of 2014, the Lancers' soccer stadium debuted a comprehensive field upgrade which includes lights for the first time in school history. In 2017, Grace debuted a track and field stadium. In 2018, Grace completed the installation of a new softball stadium. In 2023, Grace broke ground on a renovated baseball stadium.
“There is a strong commitment by Grace College’s administration to continue building athletic success and for the athletic experience to assist students to grow spiritually, academically, socially and athletically,” Briscoe said. “My family and I are blessed to be a part of this campus community.”
Briscoe secured Grace College as the host for the NCCAA Division I National Championships for men’s and women’s basketball from 2012-2024 – the first time the NCCAA has held both championships at the same venue. In 2014 he was chosen as the NCCAA Div. I National Men's Basketball Chair, serving for three years and was honored with the NCCAA Meritorious Service award. In 2017, Briscoe was elected to office within the NCCAA. He will serve a three-year term as the Second Vice President before transitioning to the Vice President position for another three years, eventually culminating as the President for a final three-year stint.
At the NAIA level, Briscoe has served on numerous committees, including the Championship Committee and as a representative to the NAIA National Administrative Council (NAC). As the chair of the NAC, Briscoe served on the inaugural NAIA Basketball Selection Committee. He was also on the NAC's Executive Committee, chairing the Championships and Competition Committee. He completed a multi-year term as President of the NAC from 2023-25, eventually receiving an Award of Merit from the NAIA for his service to the organization.
Briscoe also arranged Grace’s first Big 10 basketball game in school history when the Lancers played Indiana University at Assembly Hall on Nov. 4, 2009. In 2023, Grace experienced another Big 10 basketball game when Grace played highly-ranked Purdue University at Mackey Arena -- a year which saw two national players of the year go head-to-head (Purdue's Zach Edey, Grace's Elijah Malone). In October 2025, Grace's men's basketball team will play at the University of Colorado.
Five times, he has been named the Crossroads League's Athletic Director of the Year (2025, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2010). In 2022 he was given a prestigious national award as the NACDA NAIA A.D. of the Year. Additionally, he was chosen as the Administrator of the Year by The Leadership Playbook in 2024.
His passion for character development through the realm of athletics led to Briscoe initiating multiple character summits at Grace College every year. He implemented the Champions of Character Summit for the NAIA's Crossroads League (article) and for the IHSAA's Northern Lakes Conference (article). He serves as the Champions of Character Liaison for the Crossroads League.
Briscoe spent two years (2012 and 2013) as the AD at Mooresville High School near Indianapolis. While at Mooresville, Briscoe oversaw a $100,000 project for the school’s softball fields. He also secured a three-year sponsorship from St. Francis Hospital for the athletic department as well as directed improvements at the school’s tennis courts, baseball field, weight room, football and track building, basketball gym and soccer field.
Before his first stint at Grace College from 2007-11, Briscoe was the assistant basketball coach at Anderson University from 2001-03. He then served on the men's basketball staff at Ball State University from 2003-05 under Tim Buckley, who later served for years as the associate head basketball coach at Indiana University. From 2005-07 Briscoe served as the head assistant men’s basketball coach and assistant AD at Geneva College.
Briscoe is originally from Roanoke, Va., and a graduate of Northside High School. He went to school at Anderson University where he was a standout basketball player. He then continued his basketball career overseas, playing professionally in Sweden for six years for Fackelbararna, Nassjo and Bankeryd Basketball Clubs from 1995-2001. He also served as the head basketball coach at Sanda High School (a prep basketball school in Huskvarna, Sweden) while playing during the 2000-01 season.
He has also been involved in upper management for professional baseball, working for the Anderson Lawmen of the Heartland League from 1995-97 as director of game day operations and public address announcer and then with the Texas Rangers’ minor league system from 1998-2000. He served as the General Manager for the Pulaski Rangers in the Appalachian League. He assisted with the renovation project in 1999 to the Rangers' Calfee Park which is one of the top 20 oldest baseball parks still in use in America today. For his efforts the Pulaski Rangers was the 1999 Appalachian League Organization of the Year.
Briscoe also serves as the director for the Interstate Church of God Softball Tournament, held annually in Roanoke, Va., every Labor Day weekend. The slow pitch softball event was started by his father in 1978 and raises funds each year for mission work in Paraguay, South America, to help churches, pastors and children in need within the country.
Briscoe received a bachelor’s degree from Anderson University in 1996 and a master’s degree in sport administration from Ball State in 2006. He and his wife Jamie have two daughters, Kate and Kinley.
