The department was established in 1929. From the very beginning the department was headed by:

Evgen Georgiyovych Mayats’kiy – During his charge (1929-1945 with the break of years of war 1941-1943) the first gym 18х8 metres and sport areas were built. Volleyball, basketball, football, gorodki, later cycle racing, boxing, rowing, rock climbing, acrobatics, weightlifting and wrestling were developed. In 1940 there were 12 sports groups in the institute.

Valentyn Semenovych Murlykin – was the head of the department from 1946 to 1957. Classes were based on the general physical training. Classes were held in the following cycles: athletics, sports and games, gymnastics, boxing, weightlifting. The first sportsman brought the honour to the Mining Institute was Vasyl’ Piven’, the student of Mining Department (1951-1956), the record holder of the World in weightlifting (1954).

Volodymyr Mykolayovych Ivanov – was the head of the department from 1957 to 1972. He was conducting the building of sport center and improving facilities. The achievements of students in sport were growing higher.

Vasyl’ Grygorovych Strel’nikov – Honoured Coach of Ukraine in trampolining headed the department from 1972 to 1977. Among his trainees there are World and European champion, the student of the then existing Dnipropetrovs’k Mining University Volodymyr Zhadyaev (1976, trampolining); and constellation of Masters of Sports of the USSR, champions of Ukraine and USSR.

Evgen Yakovych Ivanenko – headed the department from 1977 to 1982. Under his supervision the facilities of the department went on growing the sport position of Dnipropetrovs’k State Institute were fortified on the regional and country sport arena. One of the most famous sportsmen among the students were Raisa Makhova –record holder of the World (1978, athletics) Mykola Musienko – recors holder of Europe (1979-1985, athletics)

Vilen Pavlovych Lagdyshuk – - headed the department from 1985 to 1986. The facilities of the health camp “Gornyak” were significantly improved under his supervision. Sports and recreation performance of the department and the health camp “Gornyak” became one of the best university camps in the USSR and was rewarded with “Red challenge banner of the All-Union Central Council of Trade-Unions”.

Yuriy Naumovych Karp – - headed the department from 1986 to 1992. This period was devoted to the reconstruction and improvement of the department faciliries. New gym halls were organized and equipped.

Vyacheslav Pavlovych Kuz’myns’kyi – High Achiever of Education, allied member of Ukrainian Writers Guild. He headed the department from 1992 to 2003. During the difficult 90-s he made great efforts to preserve members of the department. He is the founder of kettle bell lifting and athletics in the region. Athletic gym that was established and equipped by Mr Kuz’myns’kyi nowadays is one of the best gyms among the regional higher educational establishments.