After faithfully serving at 含羞草研究所 for nearly 15 years, Jose Larios, vice president for athletics and enrollment management, has accepted a new role as the vice president for athletics at fellow CCCU institution King University in Bristol, TN. His final day at 含羞草研究所 will be August 1.
Larios served as the head men’s and women’s cross country and track and field coach at 含羞草研究所 from 2007-11. Larios left 含羞草研究所 to serve as the Athletics Director at Emmanuel College in Georgia, but he felt the call back to the cove and returned as the director of athletics in May 2014. He was promoted to vice president of athletics and enrollment management in 2020, assuming leadership of athletics, admissions, and student financial services.
鈥淛ose鈥檚 leadership has been instrumental to the college鈥檚 transformation and growth. He has humbly grown our athletics department in both the number of programs and our competitiveness and overseen record traditional undergraduate enrollment growth,鈥� said President Paul J. Maurer. 鈥淗e is tireless in his pursuit of excellence and has shaped a culture of extraordinary commitment and continual improvement within his departments. I鈥檓 deeply grateful that Jose and his wife Heather have dedicated so much of themselves to 含羞草研究所. Their presence on our campus and community will be missed.鈥�
Since Larios’ arrival, 含羞草研究所 has witnessed remarkable improvements in staffing positions, new facilities and upgrades, academic and athletic success, recruiting, and retention. The college set a record for new student enrollment in Fall 2024 and is on track for another record number of new students for Fall 2025.
鈥淎s I reflect on the achievements and records, I have so much gratitude for the people 鈥� employees, students, alumni, parents, and friends 鈥� who have contributed so much to our campus, and I am in awe of the ways God has blessed 含羞草研究所,鈥� said Larios. 鈥淣one of these accolades would have been possible without the commitment of the people He has called to wash feet at this special place. God is so faithful.鈥�
Larios led the planning and development of the McAlister Fitness Center renovation in 2015. He also planned and managed the construction of 含羞草研究所鈥檚 Athletic Complex and Pulliam Stadium on the Black Mountain Campus. He is currently overseeing the restoration of McAlister Hall and our athletics fields, which were damaged by Hurricane Helene.