Marshall Announces Reorganization of Leadership Team

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University Director of Athletics Christian Spears announced Wednesday a reorganization of his leadership team, including the creation of an executive committee and promotions among senior staff members.

"We have spent the last five months learning about the people and policies that make us special," Spears said. "We know we have an administrative team who can positively move us forward while ensuring that we meet our goals of capitalizing on our amazing brand, honoring our fan base and maximizing the student-athlete experience.

"This community deserves an administrative team that expects to be successful and frankly wants to WIN. We can do that here; we have all seen it happen before at the highest level! So, hold us accountable for the work because ALL OF US are going to get after it together!

"Our entire administrative team is committed to sharing ideas and initiatives that will make us better, to inspiring others to get involved and be part of it as well as implementing and completing projects, goals and events that we know will make us successful in the Sun Belt.

"Working in college athletics at Marshall University is not a job — it's a calling. Knowing that you represent something bigger than your individual self, that you represent a historic program and serve student-athletes who will be our future leaders requires a selfless mindset and genuine commitment and our administrative team has that … I think we are all excited for our future."

The executive team:

Debra Boughton, Executive Associate AD, Championship Planning and Resources

At Marshall, Boughton will serve as the CFO and will manage our strategy behind revenue regeneration, capital planning, administrative success and resource reallocation while serving as the sport administrator for softball, volleyball and men's soccer.

Beatrice Crane-Banford, Senior Associate AD, Olympic Sports/SWA

Crane-Banford has been promoted to Senior Associate AD. She will continue to serve as the SWA and handle sport administration duties for women's basketball, women's soccer, women's swim and dive, women's tennis and women's track and field programs.

John Sutherland, Senior Associate AD, Development and Executive Director of the Big Green

Sutherland has been promoted to Senior Associate AD and will continue to oversee all areas of athletic development for Marshall University's Big Green Scholarship Foundation. Sutherland will also be the sport administrator for men's golf and women's golf.

Andrew Brown, Associate AD for Facilities and Event Operations

Brown received a promotion to Associate AD for Facilities and Operations after previously serving as Assistant AD in the same department. He will be the sport administrator for baseball and cross country.

Arlin Vieira — Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee – SAAC)

The 22-year-old joined the Herd this summer and will have job responsibilities that include special projects with a focus on the student-athlete experience and serving as Spears' executive assistant, Vieira is on Spears' senior staff and executive team and will serve as the lead administrator for our student-athlete advisory committee.

Christian Spears, Director of Athletics

Spears was introduced as Marshall's new Director of Athletics on February 25, and officially started his role on March 14. He will also serve as the sport administrator for football and men's basketball. Spears will continue to review applicants for the Executive Associate AD for External Operations and Partnerships who will also work with Football and Men's Basketball; also serving on the executive team and senior staff.

The senior staff:

Ben Ashford — Assistant AD, Director of Sports Performance

Ashford joined the senior staff on July 1 after being hired as the Director of Sports Performance in 2021. Ben has been promoted to Assistant AD and will serve on the senior staff as well as oversee all aspects of Marshall's strength and conditioning program.

Sharrod Everett — Assistant AD for Football/Football Chief of Staff

The veteran football administrator officially joined Spears' senior staff on July 1 and was promoted to Assistant AD. Everett came to Marshall in 2021 as part of Charles Huff's inaugural staff. He has 16 years of administrative experience, including every level of Division I football.

Rodney Kasey — Assistant AD for Digital Content and Brand Management

Kasey was introduced on July 1. Kasey comes to Marshall from Bluefield University, where he held the title of Assistant AD for Creative Media and Student Development. At Marshall, Kasey will lead the department's rebranded media relations division and serve on Spears' senior staff.

Dawn Kirtner — Assistant AD for Business Operations

Kirtner was promoted to Assistant AD for Business Operations in July of 2021 and was officially added to the athletic department's senior staff a year later. Kirtner started working in the athletics business office as an undergraduate student in 1997.

Teddy Kluemper — Associate AD for Development

Kluemper first joined the athletic department in 2010, and most recently served as the Assistant AD for Development. In addition to his promotion to Associate AD for Development, Kluemper was added to the athletic department's senior staff this spring.

Chris Lapole — Assistant AD, Head Athletic Trainer

The Huntington native was elevated to the AD's senior staff on July 1. He serves as the Head Athletic Trainer for Marshall and is the athletic trainer for the men's basketball program he has also been elevated to an Assistant AD.

Chuck McGill — Associate AD for External Engagement and Fan Experience

McGill will lead the marketing, broadcast and media relations teams, and have a hand in creative content (video, photo and graphics) while placing emphasis on the in-game fan experience and social media, and he also has been promoted to Associate AD.

Shiv Patel — Assistant AD for Academics

Patel joined the Herd family in May of 2022 as the Assistant AD for Academics, and officially joined the AD's senior staff on July 1. Patel will work primarily with the football team.

Cedric Prowell — Assistant AD for Equipment Operations

Prowell joined Marshall Athletics in July of 2022, and immediately joined Spears' senior staff. Previously, Prowell served as the equipment operations manager at Duke University.

Will Smith — Assistant AD, General Manager, LEARFIELD

A Marshall graduate and Kenova native, Smith will lead Thundering Herd Sports Properties. He has held roles with LEARFIELD, The Marshall University Foundation and in the ticket office at Marshall Athletics.

Sean Tuttle — Associate Athletic Director for Compliance

Tuttle joined the Thundering Herd as its Associate AD for Compliance in November 2021. He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day duties of Marshall's compliance office and its staff.

Lisa Williamson — Associate AD for Academic Services

Williamson joined Marshall Athletics in 2016. She has over 25 years of experience at Marshall, most of which was spent as the director of student services in the College of Business.

Cole Woodrum — Assistant AD for Ticket Sales and Operations

A Son of Marshall, Woodrum joined the Marshall Ticket Office in July 2014. He has held the positions of graduate assistant, assistant director of ticketing and director of ticketing. He recently added leadership for all ticket sales and operations to his portfolio.

---HerdZone.com---

Marshall University Athletics

Marshall Announces Reorganization of Leadership Team

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