On the Move

Basketball

The Charlotte Hornets hired GRAYSON FARRAR as director of partnership development. Farrar was manager of business development for Learfield’s Cal Bears Sports Properties.

The Sacramento Kings hired TOM HUNT as executive vice president of business operations. Hunt was president of business operations for D.C. United.

Colleges

The College Football Playoff hired ANDREA WILLIAMS as chief operating officer. Williams was commissioner for the Big Sky Conference. 

The American Athletic Conference hired RYAN KELLY as director of football operations. Kelly was associate director of football operations at Baylor University.

The Big South Conference promoted MARK SIMPSON to associate commissioner for public relations and MATT VANSANDT to assistant commissioner for championships.

The Southland Conference promoted THOMAS SAMUEL to associate commissioner for compliance services.

Abilene Christian University named ALLEN WARD athletic director. Ward was athletic director at Murray State University.

The University at Albany promoted LESLIE MOORE, assistant athletic director for facilities, scheduling and game operations, to the senior leadership team and TRAVIS WILSONto associate athletic director for business; and hired ERIKA KENNEY as assistant director of ticketing and group sales and JOHN REILLY as assistant director of athletic communications.

Austin Peay State University named GERALD HARRISON athletic director. Harrison was senior associate director of athletics and internal affairs at Duke University.

Florida Gulf Coast University promoted KATHY PETERSON to senior associate athletic director for student-athlete services and senior woman administrator, DENISE DA SILVEIRA to associate athletic director for marketing and sales, KELLY JEAN BROCK to associate athletic director for academic affairs and director of the Hartley Academic Resource Center, MICHAEL MILLER to associate athletic director for facilities and operations, ANTOINETTE BIFFAR to assistant athletic director for business affairs, JEREMY BORELAND to assistant athletic director for corporate sales and NICOLE NEAL to assistant athletic director for health performance.

The University of Guelph named NORM O’REILLY assistant dean and professor. O’Reilly will start a Sport Business Research Center and graduate program at the university’s College of Business and Economics.

The University of Illinois promoted MARIA WOODS to executive senior associate athletic director, and hired SARA BURTON as senior associate athletic director. Woods is replacing PAUL KOWALCZYK, who is retiring.

Jacksonville University added the title of senior vice president to Athletic Director ALEX RICKER-GILBERT.

The University of Maine promoted TYSON McHATTEN to senior associate athletic director for external operations.

University of Massachusetts Lowell Athletic Director DANA SKINNER will retire in September after 23 years in that role.

Michigan State University named BILL BEEKMAN athletic director. Beekman had served as interim athletic director since February.

Ohio University hired KEN WINSTEAD as assistant athletic director for development.

The University of Pennsylvania hired ANDREA WIELAND as associate athletic director for sports performance. Wieland was head of mental conditioning for IMG Academy.

Penn State University promoted LYNN HOLLERAN to deputy athletic director for administration, JEMAL GRIFFIN to assistant athletic director and chief of staff for football and KRIS PETERSEN to assistant athletic director for strategic communications.

San Jose State University hired RYAN O’RORKE as assistant athletic director for marketing and multimedia and NICK ADKINS as digital media and graphic design coordinator.

The University of Texas at El Paso hired ROBERT ACUNTO as associate athletic director for development and executive director of the Miner Athletic Club.

Villanova University promoted LYNN TIGHE to senior associate athletic director, chief athletic administrative officer and senior woman administrator; JOSH HEIRD to senior associate athletic director and chief athletic operating officer; ROB HAGAN to senior associate athletic director for student-athlete welfare; DEAN KENEFICK to senior associate athletic director for communications; ALLISON VENELLA to assistant athletic director for student-athlete development; MIKE SHERIDAN and DAVID BERMAN to assistant athletic directors for communications; and RYAN CHRISTIANSEN to director of video operations. The university also named JASON DONNELLY senior associate athletic director and executive director of the Villanova Athletic Fund, BRIAN BEACHAM associate director of athletic development, DANIEL GASTON senior associate athletic director for facilities and game operations, BLAKE BURKEY assistant athletic director for equipment operations, MEGHAN SHANER manager of the athletic director’s office overseeing all administrative support functions, JOE BAKER coordinator of video operations and KEVIN MILLER strength and conditioning coach.

The University of Virginia hired TED WHITE as deputy athletic director. White was deputy athletic director at the University of Georgia.

Facilities

HOK hired ROBERT BURNS as a director of business development for sports, recreation and entertainment and an associate and ANDREW ELMER as a project manager and associate.

MIKE LORENZ launched NGU Sports Lighting. Lorenz was president for Ephesus Sports Lighting.

The Sprint Center promoted SHANI TATE ROSS to vice president of sales and marketing, and hired TYLER MURRAY as director of premium sales.

Football

The Detroit Lions hired JEN McCOLLUM as senior director of community relations and Detroit Lions Charities.

The Alliance of American Football hired DAVID COHEN as head of player operations. Cohen is the founder of Major League Business.

Golf

The PGA Tour hired KIM SNIDER as sales manager for the Tour Championship. Snider was business development manager for Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The PGA Tour Northern Trust hired BRIAN AIELLO as sales manager. Aiello was senior manager of group sales for the New York Jets.

The PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open hired BRYAN CRAWFORD as tournament director. Crawford was senior director of operations for Canada Basketball.

Hockey

The Los Angeles Kings named LINDSEY KARLIS supervisor of game and event presentation and administration.

Horse Racing

The New York Racing Association hired MIKE LAKOW as racing secretary for Aqueduct Racetrack.

Marketing

Excel Sports Management hired JASON ADEL as vice president of business development. Adel was vice president of revenue for Condé Nast.

rEvolution hired DAVE MULLINS as senior vice president of client development. Mullins was vice president of client development for GMR Marketing.

Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment hired for its collegiate services division, TOMMY HOGANas regional general manager for the West Coast region, TREY GILREATH as general manager for East Tennessee State University, SEAN PETRIZZI as general manager for Longwood University and MARK BLAND as director of sales for the Southern California region.

Media

SNY hired MAURICE PEEBLES as digital editor-in-chief. Peebles was senior managing editor for Bleacher Report.

Multiteam Companies

The Madison Square Garden Co. hired JEREMY SHORT as senior vice president of sales operations, strategy and analytics. Short was vice president of business intelligence for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

Olympics

USA Hockey hired DOUG TICAS as senior director of information technology. 

USA Water Ski & Wake Sports hired NATE BOUDREAUX as executive director. Boudreaux was director of corporate partnerships for the American College of Sports Medicine.

Soccer

Major League Soccer hired ANGELA ALFANO as director of corporate communications. Alfano was head of global communications for Tough Mudder.

Tennis

The Western & Southern Open added the role of chief executive officer to Tournament Director ANDRE SILVA, and hired KATIE HAAS as chief operating officer. Haas was vice president of Florida business operations for the Boston Red Sox.

Awards and Boards

Nike named CATHLEEN BENKO, Deloitte vice chairman and managing principal, to its board of directors.