Missouri Western State University President Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian today introduced Kurt McGuffin as Western’s next director of athletics. McGuffin, currently assistant athletic director/director of athletics development at the University of Colorado-Boulder, will start at Western on Oct. 31.
”I believe that Kurt has the experience and professionalism to be an exceptional athletic director at Missouri Western,” said Dr. Vartabedian. ”I was especially impressed with his previous athletic administrative experience at universities of various sizes. Also, he has a track record of significant accomplishments in public relations, marketing and fundraising for intercollegiate athletics. Finally, he has some very good connections in our region. I ask all Griffons to join me in welcoming Kurt and his family to St. Joseph and Missouri Western.”
”It’s a great honor to be named Missouri Western’s athletic director,” said McGuffin. ”I look forward to working with Dr. Vartabedian and his administration, the coaches and athletics staff, and our student-athletes to keep the department moving in a positive direction.”
More than 80 people applied for the position. McGuffin was one of four finalists invited for on-campus interviews.
McGuffin has been at Colorado since 2010. In that position, he created and implemented a new annual giving program which increased total giving by 15 percent and added more than 600 members in the first year. He assisted with fundraising and development of a new $12.5 million court sport practice facility.
Prior to his time at Colorado, McGuffin served 10 years in the Kansas State University athletic department. From 2008-2010, he served as senior associate athletic director for external operations. He was the administrator for men’s basketball, men’s and women’s track and field/cross country and men’s and women’s golf. He oversaw all external operations in the department, including development, ticketing, marketing and communication offices. The department completed more than $25 million in facility enhancements.
McGuffin had a role in drawing more fans to Kansas State sporting events. He led marketing campaigns that generated the biggest football opening day crowd in Kansas State’s history and led the sales group that sold out men’s basketball games three out of four years. During his tenure, Kansas State women’s basketball and volleyball were in the top 10 nationally for attendance.
Previously at Kansas State, McGuffin served as associate director of athletics for development from 2005-2008. In that role, he directed the efforts of six fundraisers and four staff members to raise more than $12 million annually. He also oversaw the ticket office, which generated more than $16 million in revenue. McGuffin successfully completed the $90 million athletics department piece of the $500 million ”Changing Lives” university-wide capital campaign, and oversaw a $16.5 million growth in the endowment for athletics.
Also at Kansas State, McGuffin served as assistant director of athletics for annual giving and assistant director of athletic development. He also served as assistant director of athletics for development at the University of Idaho in 1999 and 2000, and as a graduate assistant for fundraising at Wichita State University, director of men’s basketball operations at Eastern Washington University and head men’s basketball student assistant at Kansas State.
McGuffin received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Kansas State in 1996 and his Master of Science in Education from Wichita State in 1999.
— MWSU News Release —