WACO, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) has announced that Executive Director Samantha K. Huge will be stepping down from her role effective August 31. 
 
The NCEA Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint current Deputy Director Lynn Hickey as the Association’s next Executive Director. A separate announcement formally introducing Hickey in her new role will be shared in the coming days.
 
Huge is joining the Advancement Team of Wingrove Academy, a private Pre-K through 12^th grade school currently being developed in Wellington, Florida. She will serve as the Executive Director of Principal Giving, focusing on philanthropic engagement in the Wellington and equestrian communities.

“We are deeply appreciative of Samantha’s leadership over the past year,” said Auburn head coach and current NCEA President Jessica Braswell. “She has been instrumental in advancing our mission to achieve NCAA Championship status for equestrian and has laid important groundwork that will support the Association well into the future. While we will miss her presence within the NCEA, we are excited for her as she embarks on this next chapter and wish her every success.”

Since her appointment as the NCEA’s Executive Director in July of 2024, Huge has provided strategic leadership to the organization, serving as the primary spokesperson for the sport and strengthening the Association’s national presence. She has worked closely with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the sport’s governing body, the NCAA, collegiate athletic directors, coaches and student-athletes, advancing the mission of the NCEA to expand opportunities for women in NCAA equestrian, with the goal of the sport becoming a full NCAA Championship sport.

Samantha K. Huge on the transition and her time with the NCEA:
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the NCEA and to work alongside such passionate coaches, student-athletes, and advocates of collegiate equestrian,” said Huge. “I am proud of all that our team has accomplished in just one year and confident the Association is poised for an even stronger future. I am especially grateful to Meghan Boenig, Georgia head coach and former NCEA Board President, and the entire search group who entrusted me with this opportunity, as well as to Lynn Hickey, Deputy Director of the NCEA. 

Partnering in leadership with Lynn has been both humbling and inspiring — her respected voice and tireless efforts have ensured the Association’s continued success. I am thrilled that the board selected Lynn as the Executive Director and have the utmost confidence in her leadership. As a young equestrian, I could never have imagined the opportunity to combine my collegiate athletics career with the sport of my childhood and lifelong passion. I will continue to champion equestrian at every level and look forward to the day when Women’s Equestrian is recognized as a full NCAA Championship sport.”

Huge will remain engaged with the NCEA as a strategic advisor to Hickey during a brief transition period.

Highlights of Huge’s Leadership

• Fundraising & Strategic Partnerships – Strengthened relationships with key donors and advanced a renewed strategic vision for a National Advisory Board comprised of industry experts and passionate supporters. Expanded alliances with USEF, AQHA, NRHA, and APHA.
• National Championship Visibility – In partnership with the USEF, delivered the most visible championship in NCEA history with:
  • Three days of live digital coverage on USEF Network (24.3k viewers) and ESPN3 (13.5k viewers)
  • A two-hour post-produced broadcast on ESPNU (15k viewers)
  • Total reach: 52.8k unique viewers — positioning NCEA as the only NCAA Emerging Sport with this level of national broadcast exposure.
• Administrator Council – Established the first-ever Administrator Council as a part of the governance structure, giving campus administrators a formal voice on the Board of Directors with voting rights and legislative authority alongside head coaches.
• Governance & Structure – Modernized NCEA policies, rules, and organizational framework to streamline operations and align with NCAA governance and playing rules.

About the NCEA
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing collegiate equestrian, an emerging NCAA sport for women. In partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the NCEA provides opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level while achieving excellence in academics and athletics.
 
To stay up to date all year long on all things NCEA Equestrian, follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NCEA_Equestrian and @ncea_eq.