RYAN IVEY NAMED TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-COMMERCE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
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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.”