The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Names Jennings Deputy AD and Chief Operating Officer
August 03 | General
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AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie has announced the appointment of Akron native and Buchtel High School graduate Markus Jennings as Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer.Â
Jennings' hiring is pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees.
"Markus brings a fresh perspective as well as a tremendous work ethic to Akron Zips Athletics," Guthrie said. "While Markus' focal point will be on football sports oversight and external operations of the department, he will be a key member of our leadership team and will be counted on to make many of the day-to-day decisions."
In his role, Jennings will provide strategic leadership and be responsible for broad supervision of the athletic department's external units, which include Z-Fund, communications, ticket sales, marketing, branding, multimedia rights, licensing, merchandising and sports oversight in football, baseball, cross country, and track and field.Â
"I'm incredibly honored to join AD Guthrie's team at the University of Akron," Jennings commented. "Having the opportunity to work at the institution I cheered for growing up as a child is special and something I do not take lightly. I look forward to helping AD Guthrie and the staff continue to build the brand, win MAC championships and prepare the student-athletes for life after athletics. It is a great time to be a Zip and I'm thrilled and appreciative my family has been given this opportunity to come home."
Jennings returns to his hometown after eight years in his role as associate athletic director for external affairs at Sacramento State University where he provided leadership, strategic planning, and oversight for the Hornets' 21-sport athletic program.
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Jennings oversaw Sacramento State's external operations which included fundraising, marketing, branding, promotion, media relations, ticket sales and the corporate sponsorship program. Additionally, Jennings served as the chief diversity officer while leading the department's Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.
Jennings spearheaded the Hornet's relationship with the university's advancement office, while also serving as the sport administrator for football, women's basketball, and track and field/cross country. As sport administrator, Jennings oversaw all aspects of each program, including personnel, budgeting, capital projects, student-athlete welfare and overall program evaluation.
During his tenure at Sacramento State, Jennings directed the successful rebranding of Hornet Athletics with oversight of licensing and merchandising for the department. He also led negotiations for the all-sport apparel, footwear, and accessary brand agreement with adidas and directed the partnership with the company, while also leading the negotiating team for the new athletics ticketing management system agreement.
Under his leadership, beginning fiscal year 2020-21, a major change for Hornet Athletics philanthropy was established with the creation of the Sacramento State Athletics Fund. The fund is an evolution of the Hornet Club with an emphasis on philanthropy. The unit surpassed its fundraising goals by 15 percent with team restricted giving increasing over 60 percent over FYE 2020. Donor participation also increased over eight percent.
In fiscal year 2020, the Hornet Club was able to continue the momentum set over the past five years by surpassing dollars raised and donor participation despite the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted society dramatically. The threshold of over 1,000 donors was surpassed for the first time with 1,034 donors. Also, giving increased by another 13 percent over fiscal year 2019.
Fiscal year ending 2017 was another record-breaking year for Hornet Athletics fundraising. The Hornet Club had a 42-percent increase in unrestricted dollars raised for the year. The major gift support of donors giving $25,000 or more resulted in a 49-percent increase from the previous year as well. Donors within the Hornet Club increased their giving levels 26 percent from the previous year with an average gift size of $646 per donor.
In 2016, the athletics advancement team raised a department-record total of $1.3 million in support. Major gifts secured increased by over 400 percent in less than two years under Jennings' watch. In 2015, the Hornet Club generated an all-time high of better than 57 percent new donor membership from the previous year. In 2016, that membership number increased another 58 percent to over 900 members.
Jennings established and launched the first ever "Stinger Rep" volunteer program to help increase the awareness, engagement and funding of Sacramento State Athletics and the Hornet Club. Season ticket sales for football and men's basketball increased by 20 percent in his first year and he directed the launch of the inaugural offering of women's basketball season tickets sales which helped generate additional revenue for the program.
Partnering with university advancement, Jennings oversaw the planning and start of a capital campaign called the "Power of 1000 Hornets", an effort to bring an on-campus Events Center to Sacramento State.
A former baseball player at New Mexico State, Jennings worked in the private sector for 14 years before returning to athletics as a special assistant to the athletics director at NMSU in 2007. The following year, he became the development director for athletics at Valparaiso University. While with the Crusaders, he spearheaded a capital campaign for the basketball program, while also negotiating the department's apparel and footwear agreement.
In 2011, Jennings moved to Kent State where he was part of a team that secured over $14 million towards capital, endowment and annual fund projects. During his time with the Golden Flashes, he also helped create and execute a donor-based seating program for football and men's basketball and helped increase the Football Enhancement Fund by 269 percent.
Jennings is currently the President on the Executive Committee for the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). NAADD is an organization which provides educational and networking opportunities for Intercollegiate Athletic fundraisers across the United States and Canada. The purpose of the organization is to establish the overall prestige and understanding in the profession of athletics advancement and fundraising. He is also a two-time recipient of the NAADD Diversity Award.
Jennings earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from New Mexico State in 1994 and added an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from Clark Atlanta University in 2001. He and his wife, Brenda, have two children, Masud and Basiana.
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AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie has announced the appointment of Akron native and Buchtel High School graduate Markus Jennings as Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer.Â
Jennings' hiring is pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees.
"Markus brings a fresh perspective as well as a tremendous work ethic to Akron Zips Athletics," Guthrie said. "While Markus' focal point will be on football sports oversight and external operations of the department, he will be a key member of our leadership team and will be counted on to make many of the day-to-day decisions."
In his role, Jennings will provide strategic leadership and be responsible for broad supervision of the athletic department's external units, which include Z-Fund, communications, ticket sales, marketing, branding, multimedia rights, licensing, merchandising and sports oversight in football, baseball, cross country, and track and field.Â
"I'm incredibly honored to join AD Guthrie's team at the University of Akron," Jennings commented. "Having the opportunity to work at the institution I cheered for growing up as a child is special and something I do not take lightly. I look forward to helping AD Guthrie and the staff continue to build the brand, win MAC championships and prepare the student-athletes for life after athletics. It is a great time to be a Zip and I'm thrilled and appreciative my family has been given this opportunity to come home."
Jennings returns to his hometown after eight years in his role as associate athletic director for external affairs at Sacramento State University where he provided leadership, strategic planning, and oversight for the Hornets' 21-sport athletic program.
Â
Jennings oversaw Sacramento State's external operations which included fundraising, marketing, branding, promotion, media relations, ticket sales and the corporate sponsorship program. Additionally, Jennings served as the chief diversity officer while leading the department's Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.
Jennings spearheaded the Hornet's relationship with the university's advancement office, while also serving as the sport administrator for football, women's basketball, and track and field/cross country. As sport administrator, Jennings oversaw all aspects of each program, including personnel, budgeting, capital projects, student-athlete welfare and overall program evaluation.
During his tenure at Sacramento State, Jennings directed the successful rebranding of Hornet Athletics with oversight of licensing and merchandising for the department. He also led negotiations for the all-sport apparel, footwear, and accessary brand agreement with adidas and directed the partnership with the company, while also leading the negotiating team for the new athletics ticketing management system agreement.
Under his leadership, beginning fiscal year 2020-21, a major change for Hornet Athletics philanthropy was established with the creation of the Sacramento State Athletics Fund. The fund is an evolution of the Hornet Club with an emphasis on philanthropy. The unit surpassed its fundraising goals by 15 percent with team restricted giving increasing over 60 percent over FYE 2020. Donor participation also increased over eight percent.
In fiscal year 2020, the Hornet Club was able to continue the momentum set over the past five years by surpassing dollars raised and donor participation despite the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted society dramatically. The threshold of over 1,000 donors was surpassed for the first time with 1,034 donors. Also, giving increased by another 13 percent over fiscal year 2019.
Fiscal year ending 2017 was another record-breaking year for Hornet Athletics fundraising. The Hornet Club had a 42-percent increase in unrestricted dollars raised for the year. The major gift support of donors giving $25,000 or more resulted in a 49-percent increase from the previous year as well. Donors within the Hornet Club increased their giving levels 26 percent from the previous year with an average gift size of $646 per donor.
In 2016, the athletics advancement team raised a department-record total of $1.3 million in support. Major gifts secured increased by over 400 percent in less than two years under Jennings' watch. In 2015, the Hornet Club generated an all-time high of better than 57 percent new donor membership from the previous year. In 2016, that membership number increased another 58 percent to over 900 members.
Jennings established and launched the first ever "Stinger Rep" volunteer program to help increase the awareness, engagement and funding of Sacramento State Athletics and the Hornet Club. Season ticket sales for football and men's basketball increased by 20 percent in his first year and he directed the launch of the inaugural offering of women's basketball season tickets sales which helped generate additional revenue for the program.
Partnering with university advancement, Jennings oversaw the planning and start of a capital campaign called the "Power of 1000 Hornets", an effort to bring an on-campus Events Center to Sacramento State.
A former baseball player at New Mexico State, Jennings worked in the private sector for 14 years before returning to athletics as a special assistant to the athletics director at NMSU in 2007. The following year, he became the development director for athletics at Valparaiso University. While with the Crusaders, he spearheaded a capital campaign for the basketball program, while also negotiating the department's apparel and footwear agreement.
In 2011, Jennings moved to Kent State where he was part of a team that secured over $14 million towards capital, endowment and annual fund projects. During his time with the Golden Flashes, he also helped create and execute a donor-based seating program for football and men's basketball and helped increase the Football Enhancement Fund by 269 percent.
Jennings is currently the President on the Executive Committee for the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD). NAADD is an organization which provides educational and networking opportunities for Intercollegiate Athletic fundraisers across the United States and Canada. The purpose of the organization is to establish the overall prestige and understanding in the profession of athletics advancement and fundraising. He is also a two-time recipient of the NAADD Diversity Award.
Jennings earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from New Mexico State in 1994 and added an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from Clark Atlanta University in 2001. He and his wife, Brenda, have two children, Masud and Basiana.
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