COMMERCE, Texas –- Texas A&M University-Commerce President Dr. Dan Jones today announced the hiring of Ryan Ivey as the university’s Director of Athletics. Ivey will assume his duties overseeing A&M-Commerce’s 11 intercollegiate athletic programs on Monday, January 14, 2013.
“We are excited to welcome Ryan and his beautiful family to Commerce,” Jones said. “Ryan has the rare combination of passion, business savvy and competitive spirit it will take to move our athletic program to its next level of achievement and excellence. Most important, his highest priority is the welfare and success of our student-athletes.”
“I am extremely honored and humbled at the opportunity to lead the Texas A&M University-Commerce athletic department,” Ivey said. “I am excited about becoming an integral part of both the Commerce and campus communities and can’t wait to work with our coaches, administrators and staff as we move forward toward future success and growth.”
Ivey comes to A&M-Commerce from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he has been an integral member of the Cowboys athletic department since 2007. He has served as Associate Athletic Director since August 2010, handling the day-to-day operations of the department both in an internal and external capacity.
Internally, Ivey’s key contributions have come in overseeing McNeese State’s nearly-eight million dollar athletic budget, handling the business operations on a day-to-day basis. He has also been responsible for implementing new money saving initiatives within the department as well as providing fiscal responsibility.
Additionally, Ivey has overseen McNeese’s game day operations, helping to provide an entertaining and memorable experience for fans at Cowboy home athletic events while also handling the responsibility of scheduling for all 16 Cowboy and Cowgirl athletic programs. Working directly with head coaches, Ivey has also played a key role in helping 15 of McNeese’s athletic programs increase their Academic Performance Rate to .925 or higher, improving from just four when he arrived.
Externally, Ivey has handled the responsibilities of McNeese’s corporate sponsorship program. Since taking over the program, corporate sponsorship revenue has increased over 80%, bringing in over $750,000 per year. Ivey authored a revenue generating master plan for the Cowboy athletic department as well as spearheading two different marketing campaigns which resulted in record-breaking results for the Cowboy football and basketball programs.
In addition to his McNeese State responsibilities, Ivey has assisted in the execution of the 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012 State Farm Southland Conference Basketball tournaments. Ivey has also made his mark spearheading postseason events, serving as the tournament director for the 2008 and 2012 Southland Conference Women’s Soccer tournament, the 2009 Southland Conference Softball tournament and most recently, the 2011 and 2012 FCS National Championship games.
Prior to his time at McNeese State, Ivey spent two seasons as the Director of Operations for the women’s basketball team at the University of Memphis, his alma mater. He also has experience serving as the Marketing and Promotions Coordinator for the University of South Dakota as well as a Stadium Operations Assistant for the Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League.
A native of Mayfield, Kentucky, Ivey was a four-year letterwinner at Memphis as a punter and holder on the Tiger football team, seeing action in both the 2003 New Orleans Bowl and the 2004 GMAC Bowl. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management in December 2004, followed by his master’s degree in sport and leisure commerce in August 2010. He met his wife, Kelley, while attending the University of Memphis and has two sons, Jett and Ace.
Ivey was selected from more than 50 applicants in the nationwide search by a committee that included representation from athletics, the university, alumni and the community.
“I want to thank Dr. Jones and the entire search committee in their confidence in my abilities to lead the department, as it is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” said Ivey. “This is an exciting time in A&M-Commerce athletics and I look forward to building upon the rich tradition and history that has been laid from past generations.”
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