Jessica Goerke joined University of San Diego Athletics in August 2024 as the department’s Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Senior Woman Administrator. She is a member of the athletics department's senior leadership team and provides strategic oversight across several of the department's primary operational and student-athlete support areas.
At USD, Goerke oversees sports medicine, sports performance, academics, compliance, student-athlete development, equipment services and facilities and operations. She also serves as a sport administrator for football, indoor volleyball, and softball and plays a central role in department-wide strategic planning, personnel management, policy development, student-athlete welfare and the day-to-day administration of Torero Athletics.
Goerke has also helped lead several significant institutional and departmental initiatives during her tenure at USD. Most recently, she played a leadership role in the University's preparations to serve as a Team Base Camp for the New Zealand Men's National Team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coordinating across athletics, campus leadership and external partners to prepare USD to host one of the world's premier international sporting events.
Nationally, Goerke has been an active contributor to NCAA governance, most recently serving on the NCAA Division I Academics and Eligibility Committee, where she chaired the Academics Subcommittee. Her NCAA service has also included tenures on the Division I Committee on Academics and the Division I Men's Soccer Committee, where she served as chair. Her national service has focused extensively on academic policy, student-athlete eligibility and issues shaping the evolving Division I landscape.
Goerke was selected to participate in the 2026 NCAA Pathway Program, a yearlong leadership development program designed to prepare senior-level athletics administrators for future roles as directors of athletics and conference commissioners.
Prior to joining USD, Goerke spent nearly seven years at UC Santa Barbara, ultimately serving as Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator. In that role, she provided leadership across the Gauchos' internal operations, served as a sport administrator and represented UCSB in campus, conference and national governance matters. She originally joined UCSB in 2017 as Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services before advancing into senior administration.
Earlier in her career, Goerke held positions at the University of Illinois, Georgia Tech and the University of Akron, developing extensive experience in student-athlete academic support and success.
A native of North Aurora, Illinois, Goerke earned a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education from North Central College in 2010 and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Akron in 2012.
Goerke lives in San Diego with her fiance, Wes, and their dogs, Fleetwood Mac and Finney.
