There are many people within Washburn athletics working together to create a successful department. Loren Ferré, director of athletics, oversees this team of people. 
 
Ferré became Washburn's director of athletics in February of 1996. Prior to joining Washburn's team, Ferré was the athletic director at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. He also spent 17 years at the University of North Texas.  
 
Ferré also graduated in 1971 from Texas Christian University with bachelor of arts degree, and went on to earn a master's in journalism from North Texas in 1982. Ferré values both his education and experiences he has gained. His education was important for him to advance in his administrative role, but he believes his experience has been most important in order to do his job.  
 
"When I finished my master's, I had a choice to make and I decided to stay in administration or work in athletics and it's paid off, but the experiences that I have gained over the years has just been invaluable," Ferré said. 
 
Ferré's education and experiences have helped him implement changes within the athletic department. Some of these changes includes added facilities, expansion in sports and the cost of travel and scholarships. 
 
Although athletes come and go, Ferré believes that their competitiveness has remained the same. "People can say they changed, but they still want to win, and they still want to excel in their sports," Ferré said. "I don't think that changes, but I think we have changed as far as how we take care of the athletes in the weight room as far as we prepare them. But overall, athletes still want to compete at the highest level and be successful." 
 
While having served in the athletic director's position longer than any of his predecessors at Washburn, he has been part of 36 of the 42 MIAA titles and 119 of the 129 NCAA postseason appearances in school history.
 
Funding is an essential aspect in order for athletics to expand and be successful. During his time at Washburn, Ferré has also increased scholarship and departmental funding and has been part of many of the athletic teams' successes. 
 
From day to day, Ferré attends many meetings so these changes and successes can take place. His meetings focus on the direction of athletics or the university, the MIAA conference and scheduling or funding for athletics. 
 
These meetings occur with the student-athletes in mind. "I've spent my career trying to make things better for the student athletes that come here, make money and provide the facilities and scholarships needed to attract the best student athletes we can, help the coaches be successful, but bottom line there day in and day out, I think of how we can make things better for our student athletes," Ferré said. 
 
Ferré possess many qualities that make him a successful leader for the athletic department. Ferré believes that someone in his position should be a good listener, a problem solver and a people person. He also believes that a support system is just as important because those people need to be understanding of the time commitment that is required from athletics.  
 
Brittany Lauritsen, assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator, was hired by Ferré in 2014. She believes Ferré took a chance on her and has allowed her to grow throughout the years.  
 
"Loren has never given me a challenge that he didn't think I could step up to, but he's also never dampened down a challenge. Giving me both of those things at the same time, especially at this point in my career, is beyond what a lot of other people get to do," Lauritsen said. 
 
Lauritsen also appreciates Ferré's thoughtfulness and sense of humor, but she believes that Ferré's decision making is what sets him apart from other athletic directors. 
 
"I think he tries to be as fair and as equitable as possible, and I think a lot of athletic directors do that, but I know that decisions keep him up at night because he's trying to the best that he can for this department, and to be a good steward of all of our university resources," Lauritsen said. 
 
Lauritsen has enjoyed working with Ferré and believes his leadership has positively impacted the department. 
 
"The ways in which we find success athletically and academically directly point back to the way that he leads us," Lauritsen said. "I don't think that you can question his commitment to being really, really good athletically but also being fantastically good academically."