Downs Amplifies Esteemed Razorback Staff
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas men’s cross country and track and field team is pleased to announce the addition of Matthew Downs to its staff as the new director of operations for the legendary program.
“I am extremely pleased and proud to announce that Matt Downs (formerly the director of internal operations from the University of Oregon) has joined our staff as our new director of operations, replacing long-time director of operations and former Razorback student-athlete Danny Green,” head coach Chris Bucknam said. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Danny for his 20+ years of service to the Razorback men’s track and field program. It’s a tribute to Danny and the job he did for us that we were able to attract and secure such an experienced and talented young man in Matt. We are about winning championships here at Arkansas, in every facet of our program. Matt, coming from our rival Oregon, knows about winning. We have a very zealous approach to everything we do here at Arkansas, from academics, hosting quality home meets, to competing for SEC and NCAA championships. Matt will be involved in all of these different facets of our program, either directly or indirectly. During the interview process, Matt did not shy away for our philosophy and accepted the challenge. A tireless worker, he is planning to enhance all aspects of our internal and external operations. Welcome Matt, to championship track and field at Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Track Capital of the World.”
In his new role with the Razorbacks, Downs will be tasked with the overall coordination of the day-to-day activities of the team overseeing areas such as compliance, eligibility and travel. Additionally, Downs will also serve as the meet director for all Arkansas home competitions and assist head coach Chris Bucknam with overall management of the well-respected program.
“I think Arkansas is a really unique environment and the men’s program here, without a doubt, is the most historic program in the country,” Downs said. “The community, the university – everybody here really cares about track and field. The opportunity to work at a great indoor facility and a great outdoor facility is very special and I think it’s the only place in the country that has top-level indoor and outdoor facilities. Along with that, the coaching staff here is amazing. They’re such a close-knit group who understand each other and care about each other and that’s an environment I want to be in.”
Downs makes his way to Fayetteville by way of Eugene, Oregon, where he spent the last four years working as the director of internal operations for the Oregon Ducks men’s and women’s cross country and track and field program under head coach Robert Johnson.
His responsibilities for the Ducks included complete oversite of the team’s administrative needs, balancing compliance, eligibility, meet operations, finance, marketing and promotions and public relations for a roster of 100-plus student-athletes.
Before his tenure at Oregon, Downs spent three years as the director of track and field operations at the University of Virginia, working as the Cavaliers’ home meet director and assisting with the program’s alumni relations in several capacities including fundraising.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Downs earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington in 2008 where he also raced to three all-conference honors as the team captain of the Eagles. He also holds a master’s degree in sports leadership from Virginia Commonwealth (’09) and is a six-year USATF certified official.
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
