UMW Announces Athletic Director Search Finalists

The finalists, Cole Bauer and Jason Ferris, will visit the UMW campus to meet with various departments and participate in a public forum. The campus and community are invited to attend and hear from each candidate, as well as ask questions. Public forums will be held in the Lewis & Clark Room on campus at 3:30 p.m. on April 2 and 3.

Cole Bauer: Thursday, April 2, 2026

Bauer currently serves as the Associate Director of Athletics for Athletic Event Management and Internal Operations at Bemidji State University. Prior to that, he worked at St. Anthony Motors as a Finance and Insurance Manager and at Colorado School of Mines as Assistant Director of Operations, Events, and Student Development, as well as an adjunct instructor. Bauer earned a Master of Science in Health Promotion and Wellness Management from Missouri State University and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management from Columbia Basin College.

Jason Ferris: Friday, April 3, 2026

Ferris currently works at Pioneer Federal Savings & Loan Association as a Loan Officer and Security Administrator in Dillon, Montana, a position he has held since 2022. He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Montana Western-one in Business Administration and one in Natural Horsemanship. Ferris is a Dillon resident and has been actively involved in the community for the past five years.

Forum attendees are invited to submit their feedback about each candidate by using the online feedback form: umwestern.edu/athletic-director-finalist-feedback-form/.