Kyle Moats Named New Director of Athletics at Missouri State

Missouri State University’s search for its new Director of Athletics concluded today at JQH Arena with the introduction of Kyle Moats as the University’s 10th AD. Moats is currently the Associate Athletics Director for National Marketing at the University of Louisville.

Moats is expected to begin his duties at Missouri State on July 1. He will replace Bill Rowe who will retire on June 30 after 27 years as Missouri State’s top athletics administrator after more than 50 years at the university as a student, coach and administrator.

"I am very pleased to have Kyle Moats as our new Director of Athletics," said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. "Kyle impressed all of us with his broad knowledge, wide range of experience, and vision for the future. He certainly has the student-athlete at the top of his priority list, and he understands how athletics should fit into the culture of a university. Following Bill Rowe, Kyle has big shoes to fill and he knows it. But I am confident Kyle will do an outstanding job for many years to come. All of us are excited to get started."

Moats is in his fourth year as Associate Athletics Director for National Marketing at the University of Louisville. He coordinates the Cardinals’ efforts in national awareness, marketing, branding and group ticket sales. He also works closely with Nelligan Sports Marketing, which manages the exclusive marketing rights for Cardinal Athletics. Moats oversees the Louisville band and spirit squads as the liaison with student government and student spirit groups.

"I look forward to working in collaboration with the faculty, staff, coaches, athletics staff, and student-athletes at MSU. I sense a great amount of energy and willingness to succeed throughout the entire University community," said Moats at Thursday afternoon's news conference. "To the fans of Bear Nation, I can promise I'll work as many hours as it takes to make you proud of your Missouri State athletics program."

Prior to joining the Louisville staff, Moats served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for two years (2004-05) at Marquette University, where oversaw the Golden Eagles’ Blue and Gold Fund, media relations, ticket operation, special events, licensing, radio, television, marketing and promotions and sponsorships with NSM, which has the marketing rights for several Big East Conference schools.

He also worked 14 years in the University of Kentucky athletics department, including his last three there as Associate Athletics Director for Marketing (2000-02).

Moats joined the UK staff as a graduate assistant in the athletics office in 1989, and in 1991 was promoted to Coordinator of Promotions and Special Events. He became the Wildcats’ Director of Marketing, Promotions and Licensing in 1993 before being named Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing in 1996. He served as tournament manager for the 1993 NCAA Golf Championships and the 1996 and 1998 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament events in Lexington.

A native of Dixon, Ill., Moats is a 1988 graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. While at SIUE, Moats was a three-year letter winner in golf and was a student assistant basketball coach for the Cougars from 1985-1988. He earned a master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Kentucky in 2001.

Moats and his wife Leeann have two children, Kirk (19) and Lauren (15).

"While we had several very good candidates in this search, I feel Kyle has the best combination of attributes and experiences that would make him a very good athletic director," said Missouri State University Vice President for University Advancement Brent Dunn who chaired the Search Committee. "I know that Missouri State will welcome him, and we look forward to working with him."

The process to replace Rowe began with the announcement of the Search Committee on September 28. The 12-member committee reviewed 103 applicants and began interviewing the first of five finalists on April 26. Moats was on campus for his first interview May 17-19 and returned to Springfield yesterday for a follow-up interview.

Moats’ hiring is contingent upon final approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting, June 19.

The five finalists were selected from the 103 who applied to replace long-time AD Bill Rowe, who is retiring in June after 27 years in that position.

SPRINGFIELD — Five finalists have been named in the search for Missouri State University’s Director of Athletics position. The five are scheduled for interviews over the next five weeks.

The five finalists are successful and experienced athletics administrators from five different states across the country. The finalists were among 103 who applied to replace Bill Rowe, who is retiring in June after a 50-year association with Missouri State, the past 27 as Director of Athletics.

The five finalists and their interview dates are:

• Bob Arkeilpane (ARK-earl-pane), Deputy Director of Athletics at the University of Cincinnati – April 26-28 (WITHDREW)
• Rick Darnell, Executive Director of Athletic Fundraising and Associate Athletics Director for Athletics Advancement at Baylor University – May 3-5
• Mike Marlow, Senior Associate Athletics Director for the Duck Leadership Team at the University of Oregon – May 6-8
• Kyle Moats (rhymes with BOATS), Associate Athletics Director of National Marketing at the University of Louisville – May 17-19
• Don Oberhelman (O-ber-hell-man), Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer at San Diego State University – May 10-12

“We had a great response to this position,” said Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement and Chair of the Search Committee, “which is not surprising, given Missouri State’s athletics history and the strength of the program. And, we believe we have an outstanding group of finalists to interview. It is a very exciting time for all of us in BearNation.”

When the finalists come to campus, they will be involved in about two days of interviews with the Search Committee, coaches and athletics department staff, student-athletes, other administrators, and President Michael T. Nietzel. There also will be a session with media and an Open Forum for the entire campus community, Bears fans, and the general public. The detailed interview schedules for each of the five will be publicized when they are finalized.

University officials hope to make a final selection soon after the interviews are completed so the new Director of Athletics can begin his duties on July 1 or soon thereafter.

Meet The Finalists

Bob Arkeilpane

Bob Arkeilpane has been Deputy Director of Athletics at the University of Cincinnati since 2005 and is the No. 2 administrator overseeing UC's 18 intercollegiate programs. He served as Director of Athletics at the University of Buffalo from 1998-2003 where he had responsibility for the school's 17 sports teams. He served on the Mid-American Conference Infractions Committee and the Big East Conference Baseball and Volleyball Committees. He served as Assistant Director of Athletics for Development at Miami University of Ohio (1993-95) and Cal State Fullerton (1985-87) and also has extensive development and campaign planning experience in previous roles at Cincinnati and Buffalo. The 1981 graduate of Syracuse University was a four-year letterman as a defensive back for the Orange football program and holds a Master of Sports Administration from Ohio University where he also served as a graduate assistant football coach (1981-82).

Arkeilpane Resume

Rick Darnell

Rick Darnell currently serves as Executive Director of Athletics Fundraising and Associate Athletics Director for Athletics Advancement at Baylor University, where he has been a vital part of the fundraising and development efforts for the university's 18 athletics programs since 2007. He was Associate Athletics Director for Development at the University of Idaho from 2004-07 where he also oversaw the Vandal Scholarship Fund. He also has a wealth of coaching experience, including a stint as assistant men's basketball coach at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., for legendary coach Harry Statham. His professional experience also spans more than a decade in the corporate world as a manager, consultant and major gifts officer. He is a 1992 graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Darnell Resume

Mike Marlow

Mike Marlow has been a part of the administration at the University of Oregon since 1998 and is currently the Senior Associate Athletics Director for the Duck Leadership Team. In that capacity, he is charged with the day-to-day management of Oregon Athletics, along with fellow team members, and is responsible for the short and long-term strategic planning for the department. He has also held the positions of Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations (2005-06), Associate Athletics Director for External Operations (2003-05), Assistant Athletics Director & Executive Director of the Duck Athletic Fund (1999-2003) and Duck Athletic Fund Director, Portland (1998-99). He also served three years as Assistant Athletics Director at the University of Idaho (1995-98) and 3½ years as Assistant Director of the Grizzly Athletic Association at the University of Montana (1991-95). He is a 1990 graduate of Washington State University.

Marlow Resume

Kyle Moats

Kyle Moats is in his fourth year as Associate Athletics Director for National Marketing at the University of Louisville. He coordinates the Cardinals' efforts in national awareness, marketing, branding and group ticket sales. He was Senior Associate Athletics Director at Marquette University from 2004-05 where he oversaw MU's Blue and Gold Fund and several offices. He also has 14 years experience at the University of Kentucky, including his last two years at UK as Associate Athletics Director for Marketing (2000-02) for the university’s 22 intercollegiate teams. He also held titles of Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing (1997-2000), Director of Marketing, Promotions and Licensing (1993-97) and Coordinator of Promotions and Special Events (1991-93) at UK. He is a 1988 graduate of SIU-Edwardsville, where he also served as a men’s basketball volunteer assistant, and earned his Master’s degree in Kinesiology and Sports Management from Kentucky in 2001.

Moats Resume

Don Oberhelman

Don Oberhelman has been Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer at San Diego State University since 2007. He is responsible for the daily operations of SDSU's 17 intercollegiate programs. He spent five years at the University of Southern Mississippi (2002-07) where he supervised operational policies and procedures and a number of offices as Senior Associate Athletics Director. He also has served as Education Coordinator at Texas A&M University (1998-2002) and as Compliance Assistant at Florida State University (1995-98). He is a member of the NCAA Legislative Review and Interpretations Committee and has served as compliance chair for Conference USA, as well as presenting at numerous sports law and sports management conferences and seminars. He is a 1993 graduate of Kansas State University and holds a Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration from Florida State University (1996).

Oberhelman Resume