Experienced fundraiser Matt Lyons has joined the Drake University athletics staff and will serve as senior associate athletics director for external affairs, Drake director of athletics Brian Hardin announced Thursday.
Lyons will serve as the primary fundraiser for the athletics department and will oversee the efforts of Drake’s advancement, communications, marketing, and ticket sales departments.
“We are quite fortunate to have someone with Matt’s experience and background join our team at Drake,” athletics director Brian Hardin said. “Matt’s history of successful revenue generation and familiarity with the Missouri Valley Conference will have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes, coaches and staff. We are thrilled to welcome Matt and his wife LB to the Drake family.”
Prior to moving to Des Moines, Lyons worked at Illinois State since 2011, initially as the assistant athletics director for development, and since 2016 as the associate athletics director for development. While with the Redbirds, Lyons served as the lead fundraiser and revenue generator for Illinois State athletics.
Lyons directed efforts for all aspects of Illinois State’s revenue generation unit, including major gifts, annual giving, endowments, outbound ticket sales, hospitality sales, letterwinners association, and special events. He also served as the liaison with Redbird Sports Properties, the multi-media rights holder for Illinois State athletics.
Under the leadership of Lyons, Illinois State athletics exceeded a $25,000,000 fundraising goal during a campus-wide campaign and Lyons was personally responsible for more than $19,000,000 in gift commitments.
Prior to Illinois State, Lyons was the director of the Panther Scholarship Club at the University of Northern Iowa from 2010-11. Lyons was a member of the athletics director leadership team and was the lead fundraiser for UNI’s annual giving program to athletics.
Lyons began his career as the assistant director of development at the University of Missouri from 2007-08 before moving to Illinois State from 2008-2010 where he earned his Master’s degree as a graduate assistant in the athletics development department.
Lyons earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.
Also on Thursday, Hardin announced title promotions for four members of the athletics department senior staff. Blake Boldon, Megan Franklin and Patrick Tomka were all promoted from associate athletics directors to senior associate athletics directors. Boldon will continue to direct the Drake Relays and Franklin will continue serving as the senior woman administrator. Tomka assumes the role of senior associate athletics director for finance and operations. He will have direct oversight of the athletics department’s business office, as well as the facilities, operations, and equipment units. Stephanie Sledge was promoted to associate athletics director for student-athlete academic success services.
Megan Franklin, Athletics