Nathaniel Smith named Assistant Athletic Director for Revenue Generation

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI Athletic Department has promoted Nathaniel Smith to the role of Assistant Athletic Director for Revenue Generation, as announced by the department on Wednesday.

Smith will continue to oversee UNI's annual fund, the Panther Scholarship Club (PSC), as well as ticketing and hospitality with a focus on helping increase revenue.

"Nathaniel has helped us grow as a department by bringing new and creative ideas to the table, while growing existing and building new relationships," said Jamar Thompson, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. "He is a valuable leader on our team and we look forward to the growth we'll have under him in the months and years ahead."

During Smith's tenure, he has helped raise over $11 million for the Panther Scholarship Club, including being a part of four record breaking fundraising years. Smith has assisted in coordinating UNI's annual Rally in the Valley and Women at Play fundraising events.

"I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. I've said this many times, but UNI is a special place with special people," said Nathaniel Smith, Assistant Athletic Director for Revenue Generation. "Our student-athletes are wonderful human beings and role models, our donors and fans are loyal and passionate about our department and programs, and the people of the Cedar Valley are some of the most genuine and kind people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I am excited to continue building on the foundation we've set over the last few years and to come up with ways to generate revenue and enhance our constituents' experience here at UNI," said Smith.

Prior to joining the UNI Athletics team in 2018, Smith served as Director of Athletics at Lincoln Christian University (LCU) in Lincoln, Illinois. During his two years at Lincoln Christian, he created and implemented the first ever athletics annual giving program in school history. The program resulted in an increase in athletics support by over 300%. Along with the annual giving program, Smith fundraised for major gifts which led to the enhancement of student-athlete areas including weight room, athletic training, and practice facilities for LCU's sports teams. He also oversaw corporate partnerships and other revenue generating programs for the department. In competition, Smith was responsible for hiring and managing coaching staffs which included seeing the Red Lions make their first-ever NAIA postseason appearance in school history in women's volleyball.

Smith also served prior as the operations and events coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he led presentation and logistics for all home athletic events. He also helped coordinate the advancement of corporate sponsorship initiatives and donor engagement.

As an undergraduate at Loras College in Dubuque, Smith was a four-year starter and three-year captain on the Duhawks men's basketball team. He also served as a student assistant intern at Fresno State University before earning his bachelor's degree in sports management and business in 2015. Smith would later earn a masters degree in athletic administration in 2016 from Wisconsin-Whitewater.

He currently resides in Cedar Falls with his wife Audra and two dogs, Miyla and River.

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