| Email: | jmccormick@uarichmountain.edu |
| Title: | Athletic Director |
| Phone: | 479-394-6825 |
In November 2022, Jerod McCormick was named UA Rich Mountain's second Athletic Director. He previously was the school's Assistant Athletic Director and held that position for 5 years.
As the Athletic Director, Jerod oversees 9 athletic teams (Cross Country, Track, Soccer, Baseball, Softball, and Livestock Judging). McCormick is also on the Region 2 Leadership Team as the Region 2 Men's Director and Soccer Chair. He also is the Sports Information Director for the region. Since Fall 2021, he has served on the NJCAA DI Women's Soccer Committee and is the current Vice Chair of the committee. Jerod has also been on the DII Women's Basketball Committee, Women's Wrestling Committee, a voter on the DII Softball Poll, and Region Realignment Committee.
Athletically, the Bucks have won 10 Region II Championships in 6 years: 4 Women's Cross Country (2018, 2020, 2021, 2024), 3 Men's Cross Country (2018, 2019, 2020), 2 Men's Soccer (2019 & 2021), and 1 Baseball (2022). Baseball also won the 2024 East Division Championship. The school has produced five All-American's in their short tenue in the NJCAA: Eva Miranda-Gudino (XC - USTFCCCA; 2021-22), Luke Rice (Baseball - NJCAA 1st Team; 2021-22), Jasmin Nielsen (Women's Soccer - NJCAA 3rd Team; 2023-24), Darcy Vineyard (Women's Cross Country - NJCAA Second Team 2024-25 & 2025-26), & Jaliyah Simmons (Softball - NJCAA Third Team; 2024-25 ).
Academically, the Bucks have produced 17 NJCAA All-Academic Teams. Overall, UARM has produced 130 NJCAA All-Academic Awardees. Each year the school also names an Arkansas Community Colleges Academic All-Star. Five times an athlete has took this honor: Marlenne Mendez (2018-19), Robert McIntyre (2019-20), Anthony Sanchez (2020-21), Mary Kate Duncan (2021-22), Lucas Bruni Cardosa (2023-24), and Manuela Souza (2025-26).
Under McCormick's leadership, the Bucks have continued to better themselves in the classroom, nearly doubling their number student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher, with 80 in 2024-25. This is up from 46 the previous year in 2023-24.
Originally from neighboring Montgomery County, Jerod graduated from Mena High School in 2008 and attended Arkansas Tech University from 2008-2013. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Wellness Science in August 2011 and was also named the Dr. Pat Gordon Award Recipient as Arkansas Tech's Most Outstanding HPE Graduate in the 2011-2012 school year. Then in December 2013, he graduated with a Master's Degree in Education, while being named as the Dr. John Cadle Award Recipient as ATU's Most Outstanding Physical Education Graduate Student in 2013-2014.
After being a graduate assistant at ATU, Jerod started in January 2013 at then Rich Mountain Community College in Student Affairs. With the start of junior college athletics in 2018, he worked in Admissions and as the Assistant Athletic Director for two years until moving full-time to athletics in 2020. He also is an adjunct instructor for Health and Nutrition.
He is married to the former, Megan Carmack, of Oden, and the couple have 2 children, Kynlee and Greyson. In his free time, Jerod enjoys spending time with his wife, kids, their families, hunting & fishing, and helps manage the family farm. He also is a high school football & basketball official for the Arkansas Activities Association.