Chris Wyrick Named as Senior Associate Athletic Director

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Chris Wyrick has been named senior associate athletic director for external affairs in the University of Arkansas’ Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, it was announced by Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long on Thursday.

Wyrick will be responsible for the external operations of the athletic department including oversight of marketing and promotions, the collegiate licensing program, media relations, multi-media partners and athletic department Web sites. He will also work with the associate athletic director for finance and business in supervision of the Razorback ticket office. Wyrick has had extensive experience in development and will serve as the department’s primary contact with the Razorback Foundation as well as assisting the athletic director with major gift fundraising.

“We are excited about the addition of Chris Wyrick to the University of Arkansas and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics,” Long said. “Chris has a wealth of experience and has proven to be an outstanding administrator and fundraiser. He understands the commitment and resources it requires for a university and athletic department to enable our student-athletes to compete in the Southeastern Conference and nationally. We are pleased that Chris, Merrily and their daughters, Caroline and Caitlin, are a part of the Razorback family.”

Wyrick, who is from Greensboro, N.C., joins Arkansas’ staff after spending the last two years at South Carolina, where he was associate athletics director for development.

“My family and I are excited to be coming to the University of Arkansas,” Wyrick said. “I have long been an admirer of the University and the Razorback athletic program. I am grateful to Jeff Long for giving me the opportunity to be a part of one of the top competitive all-sports programs in the nation. I am confident that with the leadership of Jeff, Chancellor John White and Chancellor-Elect Dave Gearhart, the Razorback program will continue to flourish and grow. I look forward to getting acquainted with the Razorback fans and supporters in the days and weeks to come.”

At South Carolina, he helped run a $200 million capital campaign for athletics. He helped reorganize the Gamecock Club and increase revenue from $13.8 million in fiscal 2006 to $27.8 million in 2007. He also helped secure a $5.5 million contribution to be used toward construction of the school’s academic enrichment center.

Before going to USC, he spent six years (2001-06) at Vanderbilt as an administrator and a fundraiser overseeing marketing and the institution’s relationship with ISP, sports information and the ticket office. He also served as the Commodores’ Executive Director of Development/National Commodore Club. He was responsible for the major gifts aspect of athletics development, including raising funds for the Memorial Gym practice facility, the football practice facility, the baseball stadium, track and the outdoor tennis facility. In his six years, Vanderbilt raised almost $80 million for athletics. In his last seven months, Vanderbilt’s endowment increased by almost $15 million. In 2003, he was recognized as the National Fund Raiser of the Year for major Division I schools.

A 1992 graduate of North Carolina State with a degree in political science, Wyrick worked at NC State and Miami (Ohio) before going to Vanderbilt.

In addition, Long announced that Kevin Trainor, formerly the Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, will continue to serve in his current role with the revised title of Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations and Communications.