Bio

Nikki Ayers started as the Director of Athletics at Juniata in July 2022. 

Ayers returned to Huntingdon after spending six years with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletics, where she was the Associate AD/SWA, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and in charge of human resources for athletics. She held previous titles within the CMS athletic department, including Assistant AD for Administration and Compliance, Assistant Director of Events and Operations for Roberts Pavilion, and was also an assistant women's soccer coach. 

Ayers is currently serving on the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball committee and was elected chair of the committee in June 2024. She is also heavily involved in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIA), and Women Leaders in College Sports. Throughout her career she has been a part of the NCAA Leadership Academy, served as a facilitator in the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, was a member of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s soccer rules committee (2018-2022) and is a graduate of the 2017 Women Leaders in College Sports Institute for Administrative Advancement. Ayers most recently participated in the NCAA Pathway Program, graduating in June 2023.

Prior to her time at CMS, she worked at Juniata for the first time in the role of assistant women's soccer coach, where she coached under former head coach and Associate Athletic Director, Scott McKenzie. She also made stops at Knox College and Grinnell College. She was the head coach at Knox for four seasons, taught in the sports studies department while overseeing intramural sports, and the fitness center.

Ayers is the most decorated soccer player in Juniata's history. In 2018, she was the first soccer player to be inducted into the college's Hall of Fame. This was after a career that saw her make the Middle Atlantic Conference all-conference team four straight years and win the Charles Bargerstock Award, which is presented to the senior female athlete who has made the greatest contribution to Juniata Athletics. She still is the all-time leader in school history in points, goals, and assists. She also holds the single-season record for assists.  

Ayers graduated from Juniata in 2006 with a POE in Sports Management and earned her master's in leadership from Duquesne University in 2012. She lives in State College with her husband, Jake, and her children, Kennedy and Ben.