Highlanders Hire Eric Buskirk As Senior Associate AD, Development
4/25/2012 12:50:00 PM | General
Riverside—After a national search, Eric Buskirk has been named to serve as senior associate athletics director for development at the UC Riverside Department of Athletics. Buskirk will serve on the athletics department senior staff, and oversee major gift fundraising, annual giving, marketing, sponsorships, ticket operations, and fan engagement for the Highlanders.
Buskirk, a member of the NACMA board of directors, is an experienced collegiate athletics administrator, and comes to the Highlanders after five years as the associate athletics director for external affairs and administration at Louisiana Tech University.
“Eric is a great addition to our staff,” said Wickstrom. “He has spent time at similar mid-major programs where he helped fuel their growth and success. These next few years will be exciting times for everybody associated with UC Riverside and the Riverside community. Eric will play a key role as we take steps to move UC Riverside Athletics to the next level.”
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve Chancellor Timothy White, Vice Chancellor Peter Hayashida, and Director of Athletics Brian Wickstrom,” said Buskirk.
“The UCR leadership team has a compelling strategic vision for UCR. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and help execute their plan. Especially appealing to me is a chance to work with Brian Wickstrom, whom I have known for a number of years and is a leader in intercollegiate athletics.”
While at Louisiana Tech, Buskirk directed fundraising, ticket sales, community relations, licensing, branding, marketing, promotions, game management, video board productions, the Learfield Sports partnership, and the Aspire Group partnership. In addition, Buskirk played a vital role with internal administration of the athletic department, including assisting in the administration of the football, baseball and golf programs.
During Buskirk’s tenure, LA Tech constructed a new tennis complex and the Jim Mize track & field complex. In addition, major renovations were completed with the Karl Malone weight room, men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms, Karl Malone basketball court, Pat Patterson Baseball Park, and the Lady Techster softball complex.
Buskirk came to Louisiana Tech after working at the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) as the assistant athletic director for external affairs, where he was recognized as one of the “Top 40 under 40 Rising Stars” by the San Antonio Business Journal. Under his direction, UTSA athletics experienced a dramatic increase in its external support, including a more than doubling of corporate sponsorship revenue in Buskirk’s first 12 months directing the department.
Before UTSA, Buskirk served as the athletics marketing director at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Buskirk earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Ohio State, and an MBA in sport management from Florida Atlantic University.
Buskirk, a member of the NACMA board of directors, is an experienced collegiate athletics administrator, and comes to the Highlanders after five years as the associate athletics director for external affairs and administration at Louisiana Tech University.
“Eric is a great addition to our staff,” said Wickstrom. “He has spent time at similar mid-major programs where he helped fuel their growth and success. These next few years will be exciting times for everybody associated with UC Riverside and the Riverside community. Eric will play a key role as we take steps to move UC Riverside Athletics to the next level.”
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve Chancellor Timothy White, Vice Chancellor Peter Hayashida, and Director of Athletics Brian Wickstrom,” said Buskirk.
“The UCR leadership team has a compelling strategic vision for UCR. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and help execute their plan. Especially appealing to me is a chance to work with Brian Wickstrom, whom I have known for a number of years and is a leader in intercollegiate athletics.”
While at Louisiana Tech, Buskirk directed fundraising, ticket sales, community relations, licensing, branding, marketing, promotions, game management, video board productions, the Learfield Sports partnership, and the Aspire Group partnership. In addition, Buskirk played a vital role with internal administration of the athletic department, including assisting in the administration of the football, baseball and golf programs.
During Buskirk’s tenure, LA Tech constructed a new tennis complex and the Jim Mize track & field complex. In addition, major renovations were completed with the Karl Malone weight room, men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms, Karl Malone basketball court, Pat Patterson Baseball Park, and the Lady Techster softball complex.
Buskirk came to Louisiana Tech after working at the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) as the assistant athletic director for external affairs, where he was recognized as one of the “Top 40 under 40 Rising Stars” by the San Antonio Business Journal. Under his direction, UTSA athletics experienced a dramatic increase in its external support, including a more than doubling of corporate sponsorship revenue in Buskirk’s first 12 months directing the department.
Before UTSA, Buskirk served as the athletics marketing director at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Buskirk earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Ohio State, and an MBA in sport management from Florida Atlantic University.
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