University of Nevada President Marc Johnson has recommended Doug Knuth to the Nevada Board of Regents to become the university's next director of athletics.
“I would like to thank the search committee, the athletics staff and coaches, and especially President Johnson for this outstanding opportunity to lead the University of Nevada athletics department," Knuth said. "I am excited to join a University which places a high value on the transformational power of education as well as the power of positive athletics. I believe Nevada is poised for greatness."
The recommendation will be considered at the Regents’ meeting Thursday afternoon. Knuth will be given a three-year deal at $285,000 a year.
“Doug has tremendous experience and enthusiasm for college athletics and he has a great understanding of the role of education and athletics in the lives of our student-athletes,” Johnson said. “He is a proven fundraiser who has had success in generating both traditional and entrepreneurial revenue streams. He is also very familiar with the Mountain West Conference and the challenges of conference realignment, and I am confident that Doug is the right person to continue the successes and tradition of Wolf Pack Athletics.”
Knuth has spent the past eight years at the University of Utah as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. He has more than 18 years of professional experience in athletics administration and has led Utah to record fundraising in each of the last seven years.
He has successfully launched a $150 million comprehensive athletics campaign and has doubled the Utes’ annual fund in five years. Knuth is a member of the prestigious I-A Athletic Director’s Association Fellows Program, served on the NCAA Tennis Committee from 2007-10 and has held leadership roles in the National Association of Athletic Development Directors since 2010.
Prior to Utah, Knuth served as the assistant athletics director for development at Michigan State for five years and was responsible for the annual giving program. He also managed major gifts associated with the expansion of Spartan Stadium through suite and club seats sales.
He started his career in athletics administration and fundraising at the University of Connecticut and also spent time at the University of Massachusetts and Ohio University.
Knuth earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Connecticut in 1994 where he was also a four-year letter winner and captain on the men’s tennis team. He holds master’s degrees in sports administration and facility management from Ohio University (1998) and business administration from Northwood University (2002).
