King University President Andy Tooley, Ph.D., announced today that Jose Larios, vice president of Athletics and Enrollment Management at Montreat College in Montreat, North Carolina, will join King as vice president of Athletics, effective Aug. 1, 2025. Larios has more than 25 years of experience in coaching and administrative leadership and has served on the President’s executive team at Montreat for nearly a decade.

“Jose’s significant experience as a coach, mentor, and effective administrator in multiple areas of higher education made him stand out in a pool of strong candidates,” Tooley said. “I found Jose’s holistic approach to student-athlete success, philosophy of leadership, track record of developing winning programs, and enthusiasm for fostering community partnerships inspiring. We are incredibly excited to welcome him to King and Bristol.”

At Montreat, Larios oversaw the daily activities of 23 varsity teams and was integral in planning and managing campus additions and upgrades, including the construction of a new $2.7 million track and turf-field facility, new softball field, and the renovation of the college’s fitness center. He was also central to marketing, recruiting, fundraising, hiring and mentoring new coaches, and encouraging service to others among student-athletes.

Prior to joining Montreat, Larios served as director of Athletics at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia. He has comprehensive experience managing NCAA Division II teams, was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Director of the Year, and was also a national finalist for the NAIA Athletic Director of the Year in 2019, as well as Coach of the Year 12 different times.

“The Larios family is thrilled to join the King family. We especially thank Dr. Tooley, Christa, and the search committee for a thorough process of sharing our common vision and mission. My prayer all along has been that through our collective work and pursuit of excellence, students and our local community would come to know the love of Jesus through our athletic platforms.” Larios said.

In his role at King, Larios will be responsible for overseeing all operations of athletics, including the coordination of 29 varsity teams, recruiting top student-athletes, ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory organizations, and encouraging a culture of integrity, excellence, and collaboration.

He holds a bachelor of arts in English and Secondary Education from Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida, and a master’s degree in Sports Management from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. He and his wife Heather and their children, Gabe and Sara, will be relocating to the area soon.