ROCHESTER, Mich. – Athletic director Steve Waterfield and Oakland University Athletics has announced the addition of Kenneth DeGraaf as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, bringing more than a decade of collegiate athletics experience spanning NCAA Division I compliance, athletic administration, and coaching to the Golden Grizzlies.

DeGraaf joins Oakland after serving as the Assistant AD for Compliance & Scholarships at Houston Christian since April 2024. In that role, he administered compliance and athletic aid matters for HCU's 17 Division I varsity programs, overseeing team scholarship budgets and roster limits while providing rules interpretations to coaches, student-athletes and department leadership. He also managed the NCAA Transfer Portal, athletic aid renewals, and the athletic signee process, while monitoring progress toward degree, academic eligibility, and APR requirements.

Prior to his time at HCU, DeGraaf spent six years at Mount St. Mary's University, where he served as the Program Director and Head Coach of the bowling program from 2018-24. He built the nationally ranked program from the ground up, compiling a 427-214 (.667) record and leading the Mount to two NCAA Tournament appearances. During his tenure, he coached three National Tenpin Coaches Association All-Americans and five All-Region selections, while the program remained ranked in the NTCA Top 20 from December 2018 through his departure, reaching as high as No. 7.

DeGraaf also served as Vice President of the National Tenpin Coaches Association from 2022-24 after being elected by his fellow Division I coaches. His responsibilities at Mount St. Mary's extended beyond coaching, including recruiting, compliance, academic advising, budget management, fundraising, social media and event operations.

DeGraaf began his collegiate coaching career at Saint Francis University, serving as an NCAA Division I assistant coach from 2016-17. He posted an 11-1 record as interim head coach and guided the team to a tournament championship at the James Brown Invitational.

A native of metro Detroit, DeGraaf's athletics background also includes experience with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the West Michigan Sports Commission. Through those roles, he worked with youth ages 6-18, coordinated athletic programs and events, assisted with the State Games of Michigan, and helped launch the Adopt-An-Athlete program designed to generate college interest among low-income children.

In addition to his professional experience, DeGraaf has served as an adjunct professor at Houston Christian and holds a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Certificate from Mount St. Mary's. He was also named Northeast Conference NCAA Division I Coach of the Year in 2019 and was selected to the Siena Heights University Bowling All-Decade Team in 2020.

DeGraaf earned a Master of Business Administration from Saint Francis University in 2018 after completing a bachelor's degree in Sport Management with a minor in Journalism from Siena Heights University in 2016.

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