Joe Fields was named the university's 24th Director of Athletics and is amid his first year after assuming his role on October 8, 2025. He brings over 20 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics as both a student-athlete and administrator.
Prior to taking over at NM State, Fields spent one year at the University of Tulsa where he served as the Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer.
With the Golden Hurrican, Fields oversaw the daily operations of the athletics department, ensuring efficiency in all areas. He worked closely with Vice President and Director of Athletics Justin Moore, along with senior leadership, to develop and implement strategies that positioned Tulsa athletics for success in the changing landscape of collegiate sports. Additionally, he served as the sport administrator for the football program.
Before his time in Tulsa, Fields held the position of Executive Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations at Texas A&M. In this role, he managed the internal operations of the athletics department and served as the sport administrator for the football and basketball programs.
Fields began his career at Texas A&M in 2017 as the Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services. He was later promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services and Administration. Following a highly successful tenure, he was elevated to the role of Deputy Athletics Director.
As an athletics administrator, he oversaw multiple units during his career at Texas A&M, including:
- The Center for Student-Athlete Services (CSAS), which encompassed Academic Services, the Learning Center, and Student-Athlete Engagement units
- Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)
- The Lettermen’s Association
- Equipment operations and all major apparel-related contracts and relationships.
- Performance and Wellness, including nutrition, strength & conditioning, athletic training, sport psychology, and sport science
- Sport administrator for the cross country and track and field programs.
Fields brought extensive experience in student-athlete development and academics to A&M, enriched by his unique perspective as a former student-athlete. During his tenure at A&M, he significantly enhanced the athletics department's Center for Student-Athlete Services (CSAS). Among his many notable accomplishments, Fields restructured the CSAS, implemented several key Student-Athlete Development programs, and revamped the A&M Student-Athlete First-Year Experience. Additionally, the CSAS achieved record-breaking performance in several academic benchmarks, including Grade Point Averages (GPAs), Academic Progress Rates (APR), and Graduate Success Rates (GSR).
As an administrator, Fields also assisted in Athletics Director and Head Coach searches. He collaborated with the A&M 12th Man Foundation to coordinate and pair eligible student-athletes with the 1922 Fund Endowment Scholarship Program. Additionally, Fields assisted foundation fundraising efforts to endow Math and Learning Specialist positions for student-athletes. He also played a key role in the development of the Adam Sinn Academic Center and FA Murray Fasken Track and Field projects.
Fields joined Aggieland from Syracuse, where he ascended over a span of seven years working in student-athlete development for the Orange. Fields served as an Academic Graduate Assistant and worked his way up through roles including Academic Coordinator, Assistant Director, Associate Director, and ultimately Director of Academic Services.
During his tenure at Syracuse, Fields helped the men’s and women’s basketball programs achieve the highest team GPAs in program history. Under his watch, the men’s basketball program posted a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1,000 for five consecutive years. He also helped the football team co-lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in team honor roll selections and served as the Director of the Syracuse Youth Impact Program. Through a progressive mindset, innovative staff development, and measurable academic success, Fields established himself as a proven leader and emerging administrator in the athletics profession.
As a student-athlete, Fields played football at Syracuse from 2004 to 2007, earning All-Big East Conference honors at safety. He then played professionally for one season (2008) with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
Fields is a member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and serves as a board member of the NBA/NCAA Continuing Education Pilot. He also served two terms on the N4A Budget and Finance Committee.
A native of Houston, Fields attended Booker T. Washington High School, graduated from Syracuse with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, and later earned a master’s degree in instructional design, development, and evaluation. He and his wife, Sade, have two sons, Joseph and Jode, and one daughter, Jade.
