HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Matt Roan was officially introduced as the new athletic director of James Madison University.

At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Roan said that he fits JMU, and JMU fits him.

“I want to be part of an innovative athletics department,” Roan said. “This is an everything school: there are incredible advantages here in our resources and our facilities, we outpace our peers, we’re pursuing premiere. JMU is after excellence and engagement – athletics exist here not just to complement the student experience, but to actually enhance it.”

JMU President Jonathan Alger echoed that sentiment during the ceremony.

“He is, as many of you know, a Virginia native, he’s a former student athlete, he has experience as an athletics administrator and particularly as a Division One athletic director for many years already,” Alger said. “So, he has sat in this chair at other institutions and worked with presidents and other senior colleagues.”

Roan comes to Harrisonburg after serving as athletic director at Eastern Kentucky University. He is the third athletic director at JMU in 53 years and replaces Jeff Bourne, who retired after serving the last 25 years in the position.