North Dakota State University director of athletic academics Kelli Layman has led the academic support program for NDSU's more than 400 student-athletes since 2009. In addition to her oversight of athletic academics, she is the academic coordinator for the Bison football and softball teams.
In her current position, Layman documents NCAA eligibility for current athletes as well as incoming transfers, writes NCAA reports, supervises the athletic academic staff and meets regularly with current student-athletes.
While in her current position she has received numerous awards for service to the student-athletes among them is the prestigious Blue Key Doctor of Service, for outstanding service and commitment to the university, community, and state. She also received the first inaugural Student-Athlete Choice award presented at the Green and Gold Gala in 2015.
Layman joined North Dakota State University in 1986 as an instructor in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation department and as an assistant basketball coach. She taught anatomy, biomechanics and individual fitness classes in the HPER department, now known as the Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science department. She was elevated to the associate head coach in 2005.
She was an assistant coach for the NDSU women’s basketball team that won five NCAA Division II national championships in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996, and made the Final Four eight times.
A native of New Paris, Ind., Layman received her bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in biology. She earned her master’s in biomechanics from Purdue University in 1986.
