CONWAY – University of Central Arkansas Athletics Director Dr. Brad Teague, along with Assistant Athletics Director for External Operations Matt Whiting, has announced the addition of several new members of the UCA external unit effective earlier this semester.
Five new employees have begun their tenure with the Bears and will lead several new and innovative initiatives into the future for UCA athletics.
"It was quite an unusual coincidence to lose the entire external team during a short period of time," Teague said. "But it was an opportunity to bring in totally new perspectives to our team and to enhance our external operation. I am very pleased with the individuals Matt Whiting has brought to the department.
They are already making a great impact on our program and I have no doubt that will help to greatly enhance our student-athlete experience, fan and donor experience and our program image."
AUSTIN HOPPER (DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT)
Austin Hopper takes over as the Director of Development having spent the previous two years as a graduate assistant at Louisville. With the help of Hopper, the Cardinals became the most profitable basketball program in the entire county while becoming the second-highest revenue generating school in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Hopper is a Monticello native and a 2017 graduate of Arkansas State. He earned a bachelor's of science in Sport Management with a double minor in business and management and he later earned a Master's of Sport Administration from Louisville.
MACKENZIE MAGWIRE (DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS)
MacKenzie Magwire heads to UCA having spent the last two seasons as the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, Promotions and Licensing at Northwest Missouri State. She is a 2015 graduate from NWMSU where she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Public Relations. Magwire went on to earn her Master's of Business Administration in 2016 while working with the Bearcats.
As the Assistant AD in Maryville, Mo., Magwire oversaw student intern groups and managed the operations of the video board at home football games. She also created and supervised the Bearcat Buddies Kids Club and was the director of marketing and corporate sponsorships within the athletics department. In addition, Magwire played an important role with the creative team helping design graphics and produce new and innovative social media initiatives.
KATIE MOORE (COORDINATOR OF PARTNERSHIP SUCCESS)
A graduate of Southland Conference neighbor Sam Houston State, Katie Moore has been tasked as UCA's Coordinator of Partnership Success. She most recently worked with Peak Sports MGMT as an Account Executive at Murray State.
With the Racers, Moore generated over $30,000 in new sponsorship revenue and managed all activation and fulfillment of over 120 partnership accounts totaling over $570,000 in sponsorship revenue. In addition, Moore coordinated game-day and event operations and created end-of-year recaps for all partners. Moore previously interned with Sam Houston State and the Frisco Roughriders prior to her stop in Murray, Ky.
HUNTER ROBERTS (ATHLETICS TICKET MANAGER)
Hunter Roberts takes over as the new Athletics Ticket Manager by way of the University of Evansville, where he spent 2018 as an External Affairs Intern. Prior to his service with the Purple Aces, Roberts served as an athletics communications intern at his alma mater, Missouri State.
The Lee's Summit, Mo. native earned a bachelor's of science and arts and letters from MSU while majoring in public relations and minoring in marketing. Roberts will oversee all ticket operations and will be the direct contact for Bears' fans for Central Arkansas football, men's and women's basketball and baseball.
THOMAS RODRIGUEZ (UCA SPORTS PROPERTIES – GENERAL MANAGER)
Thomas Rodriguez has taken over as the General Manager for UCA Sports Properties and will work directly with corporate sponsors by way of Peak Sports MGMT. He makes his way to Conway having spent almost five years as the Coordinator of Partnership Services for the University of New Mexico through Learfield Communications.
A graduate of the University of Phoenix, Rodriguez brings a wealth of experience to UCA as a corporate liaison where he managed over $2,000,000 of Lobo Sports Properties Corporate Partnership Accounts and established client outreach initiatives, digital and social media coordination and client and property public relations. Prior to his stop at UNM, Rodriguez also worked for the United States Air Force and the Boys and Girls Club of Central New Mexico.
"I'm very excited to add Katie, MacKenzie, Thomas, Hunter and Austin to our external team," said Whiting. "All five are extremely talented, bring a diverse skill set and have hit the ground running in the few short weeks that they have been on campus.
We are fortunate to have each on board at UCA and I look forward to working with them to enhance the experience for our passionate fans."
