Ethan Hamilton completed his 15th year as Point Loma Nazarene University's Athletic Director in 2023-24. Hamilton oversees all 11 Point Loma intercollegiate athletic programs as well as all aspects of the PLNU Athletic Department.
Hamilton guided Point Loma through one of the most important periods in the history of the athletic department as he brought the Sea Lions from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. The Sea Lions officially became an active NCAA member in July of 2014 after a three-year transition process. He also found Point Loma a new home in the Pacific West Conference, which has been described as "the NCAA's most beautiful destination conference.”
Hamilton has led multiple capital projects that have seen improvements to every one of the Sea Lions' Athletic Facilities. In August of 2011, the Point Loma Athletic offices were constructed and allowed a centralized location for the administrative staff. In the summer of 2012, he oversaw the replacement of the turf along with increasing the dimensions to the soccer field. In 2013-14 he also coordinated and oversaw the redesign of the Point Loma Athletic logo and color scheme which led to several changes to the aesthetics of Golden Gym and other facilities. This process also culminated with orchestrating a partnership with Nike and Sports Chalet (now BSN Sports).
The 2014-15 year saw a completely new install to the track, resurfaced tennis courts and over 500 seats (originally from PETCO Park) added to the PLNU facilities, and in the summer of 2017, Carroll B. Land Stadium got an upgrade as its entire playing field was re-sodded. Hamilton also spearheaded the renovation of the seating and entryway to Golden Gym.
Many of these projects have been at least partially funded through the launch of the Loma Athletic Fund, which was created in 2013 to create a cohesive fundraising arm for athletics and the university. The LAF has seen a significant increase in the number of gifts and total dollars each year since its inception.
Due to Hamilton's astute ability to secure top-notch coaches and staff, evidenced by PLNU's 14 PacWest Coaches of the Year, Point Loma has consistently improved in the PacWest Commissioner's Cup standings. After ranking No. 9 in 2012-13, the Sea Lions rose to sixth in 2013-14, fourth in both 2014-15 and 2015-16, and all the way to second in 2018-19, 2022-23 and 2023-24.
PLNU has also earned all three of the PacWest's Community Service Awards. PLNU captured the conference's Diversity Award in 2013, the Make-A-Wish Award in 2014 and the Community Engagement Award in 2015 and 2017. During the 2019-20 academic year, PLNU also won the PacWest Academic Achievement Award with a then conference-record 3.499 cumulative student-athlete grade point average. In 2022-23, Point Loma won the same award for a second time, with the now second-highest GPA (3.55) in conference history.
Under the guidance of Hamilton, Point Loma had its most successful season in the department's NCAA history in 2023-24, winning five PacWest championships and sending eight teams to NCAA regionals. That included PLNU Women's Soccer winning the school's first-ever NCAA Division II national title and PLNU Baseball making a second trip to the NCAA Division II World Series in three years.
In 2018-19, PLNU Men's Basketball reached the NCAA Division II National Championship game and Daulton Hommes was named the NABC Division II National Player of the Year. The men's basketball team captured both the PacWest regular season title and postseason championship, before winning the West Regional to make the Elite Eight. The 2018-19 season was perhaps the most successful in PLNU's time in NCAA Division II up to that point, as three teams won PacWest titles and four earned regional bids.
In 2021-22, PLNU Baseball finished as NCAA Division II Runner-Up after winning the program's first-ever PacWest and West Region championships. The baseball team set new program and conference records with 51 wins on the season. Their efforts highlighted another memorable athletic year for the Sea Lions, who won three total PacWest titles and had five teams compete in regionals.
During its 10 seasons of NCAA Division II eligibility, PLNU has won 21 PacWest championships and has had 46 appearances by teams in the NCAA Regional or individuals at the national meet. Each of the Sea Lions' 11 teams have also qualified for NCAA postseason play during that time.
Sea Lion student-athletes have also thrived in the classroom under Hamilton's leadership. PLNU was named the winner of the NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence in both 2016 and 2017 with an Academic Success Rate of 99 percent. This was the fifth-straight season that PLNU had earned an NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence with an ASR of 98 percent, but 2016 was the first year the Sea Lions led the nation. Point Loma has now earned the Presidents' Award in 10-consecutive years, with student-athletes now routinely posting marks higher than the general student body.
Hamilton was selected as one of the 12 Athletic Director Mentors to serve in the NCAA Mentoring Program for aspiring athletic directors. In addition, he serves as the Chair of the PacWest Membership and Scheduling Committee. Hamilton has also served as a member of the NCAA Division II West Regional Advisory Committee for Men's Basketball, Baseball and Women's Volleyball. He also is a member of the Division II Athletic Director Association.
Prior to becoming the Athletic Director in 2009-10, Hamilton was head coach of the men’s basketball team for three years, beginning with the 2008-09 season. Before taking over the reins of men's hoops, Hamilton was the team’s associate head coach for three seasons (2005-08). During this time, he also served as PLNU’s Associate Athletic Director.
The Sea Lions posted a 99-77 overall record during his six seasons as the associate and head coach. PLNU appeared in six conference tournaments during that span and qualified for the NAIA national championships in March of 2008. The team won five postseason games in Hamilton’s six campaigns, third-most in the Golden State Athletic Conference during that stretch of time.
In 1997, Hamilton received a bachelor’s degree in physical education from PLNU, where he was also a student assistant with the men’s basketball team. In 2000, he earned a master’s degree in education at Cal State San Bernardino. Before returning to his alma mater, Hamilton coached at Azusa Pacific University and NCAA Division I UC Riverside. While at APU, he also served as the Director of Athletic Development.
Ethan and his wife Andrea are parents to Lily and Elijah. Ethan is a native of the high desert and is a graduate of Hesperia Christian where he ran cross country and was an all-league selection in basketball.
