Education:  University of Virginia (B.A.), Mount St. Joseph University (M.S.O.L)
 
 Melanee Wagener is entering her fifth year as the Director of Athletics at Mount St. Joseph University in 2024-25 and her 19^th year overall, having served as the women’s basketball coach for 4 years and the Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator for 10 years.
 
As the Director of Athletics, Wagener is responsible for 23 varsity sports teams i with over 500 student-athletes. Under her supervision the student-athlete population has risen by over five percent.

Over the past four years the MSJ athletic department has seen an unprecedented level of success under the direction of Wagener. The Lions have sent five teams to NCAA Division III national tournaments since 2020. The softball program appeared in back-to-back tournaments after securing the HCAC Championship in both 2021 & 2022. In 2022 they won the first regional championship in program history and appeared in the super regional round of the NCAA tournament. The football program has appeared in back-to-back NCAA tournaments after winning the HCAC Championship in both 2023 & 2024. While the women’s volleyball program secured an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament after a fantastic 2023 season, which included an HCAC regular season title. The women’s soccer team won the 2021 HCAC regular season title as well.

The Mount has also seen outstanding performances by individual athletes over the past four years, led by the first National Champion in school history. Cornell Beachem Jr. secured the 174-lb championship in 2021. Three different wrestlers have reached All-America status, including Beachem Jr. (2020 & 2021), Antonio McCloud (2020) and Desmond Diggs (2024). Track and Field has been represented on the All-America team by a pair of athletes Justin Dreyling (3x All-American, 2022 outdoor championships triple-jump 4^th place finish, 2023 indoor championships long-jump 5^th place finish & triple-jump 6^th place finish) and Jill Wilhelm (2024 outdoor championships, javelin-throw 16^th place finish).

The Lions have also had a pair of academic All-America selections during her tenure both coming during the 2022-23 academic year Danny Mabe (football) and Ryan Murray (baseball).

Prior to Wagener coming to the Mount, she was a Division I basketball coach for 10 years at American University and Jacksonville University. During her 4 year playing career at UVA, the Cavaliers competed in three consecutive Final Four appearances. Wagener then went on to play professionally oversees before beginning her coaching career. As a high school player, she was named a Top 25 Street and Smith high school All-
American and voted the Gatorade Player of the year for the state of Maryland.
 
Wagener resides in Montgomery, OH and has two daughters.