Charlotte, NC - Johnson & Wales Charlotte has hired Justin Bates as Assistant Director of Athletics.

Bates comes to JWU from Barton College where he served as the Associate Director of Athletics beginning in August, 2024. His duties at Barton included budget oversight for the 25 Bulldog athletic teams, ensuring NCAA compliance and eligibility for over 650 student-athletes, managing athletic scholarships, and direct program oversight of bowling, cross country/track & field, field hockey, golf, swimming, and tennis.

HIs duties at Johnson & Wales will focus on compliance and sports oversight.

"I want to first thank Campus President, Dr. Richard Mathieu and Athletic Director, Coach Trudi Lacey for their leadership and the opportunity to work alongside them on behalf of our students," said Bates. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to help form and develop our students for professional, personal, and intellectual success."

Prior to Barton, Bates spent nine years at his alma mater, Belmont Abbey in variety of roles. He was the Associate Director of Athletics: Internal Operations from August, 2015 to March, 2023. His duties included coordinating facility usage for Crusader athletic teams, overseeing facility renovations and upgrades, and implementing new departmental policies. He then transitioned into the role of Associate Director of Athletics: External Operations from March, 2023 to August, 2024. In this role, Bates had direct oversight of seven athletic teams, tracked key business metrics and made recommendations for adjustments to policies and procedures, and led the department's fundraising and community outreach efforts.

Johnson & Wales athletic director Trudi Lacey is happy to add Bates to the growing Wildcat athletic team. "We are pleased to have Justin join our JWU CLT Athletics team.  Justin brings NCAA athletic administrative experience which will assist us in our transition to NCAA D III provisional phase. We are excited to add him to our already thriving athletic department."

Bates earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management from Belmont Abbey in 2012 before going on to earn a Master of Science in Management: Sports Management from Wilmington University in 2021.