Chief Executive Officer Athletics

Position Title
:
Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana Athletics

Department
: 8911|General Athletics

Position Summary:

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Carnegie R1 public research university, seeks a proven enterprise leader to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Louisiana Athletics. Reporting directly to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the CEO will lead the strategy, financial sustainability, commercial growth, philanthropy, brand, partnerships, facilities, competitive investment, and public leadership of an NCAA Division I program in the Sun Belt Conference.

The CEO will turn the Ragin’ Cajuns’ distinctive identity, loyal supporters, facilities, and community ties into sustained net revenue, stronger student and fan engagement, and broad competitive success. The role calls for urgent financial and cultural transformation, measurable results, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to student‑athlete welfare, academic achievement, and integrity. An Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer reporting to the CEO will manage day‑to‑day athletics operations under delegated authority;

the CEO retains final executive accountability for the enterprise.

• Develop and execute a financially grounded, three‑year strategy aligned with the President’s Louisiana Vision 2035 priorities and the University’s mission; lead the senior athletics team and establish clear decision rights with the Athletic Director/COO.
• Own budgets, multi‑year forecasts, revenue‑sharing obligations, contracts, staffing, capital priorities, and enterprise risk; strengthen controls, procurement, expense accountability, and transparent reporting.
• Establish verified baselines and measure recurring net revenue, operating performance, and institutional support using consistent accounting that distinguishes cash from commitments and one‑time gains from durable improvement.
• Recruit, develop, evaluate, and hold accountable high‑performing leaders; make difficult personnel and resource decisions with urgency and integrity.

• Integrate ticketing, pricing, premium seating, sponsor ships, multimedia rights, licensing, philanthropy, naming rights, hospitality, parking, events, digital products, and new ventures around net contribution and renewal.
• Personally cultivate major donors, corporate partners, sponsors, and community leaders; coordinate prospect management, brand strategy, and revenue attribution with the Ragin Cajun Athletics Foundation, University Advancement and Strategy, and Communications and Marketing.
• Evaluate public‑private partnerships and other capital or commercial opportunities with disciplined risk analysis and measurable returns.

• Make athletics central to student life and build a distinctly Ragin’ Cajun game‑day and year‑round culture that increases student participation, attendance, football and basketball demand, season‑ticket retention, and community ownership.
• Use research, pricing, data, storytelling, and digital engagement to deepen fan relationships and increase demand across Acadiana and beyond.

• Set sport‑specific expectations for competitive results, academic success and progress, coach performance, roster stability, efficient investment, and student‑athlete experience.
• Oversee strategy for NIL, revenue sharing, recruiting, media, conference positioning, and evolving college athletics economics while protecting health, safety, academic integrity, and NCAA and conference compliance.
• Exercise final executive authority over head‑coach decisions, senior personnel, budgets, competitive…