University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities & Event Operations
- Email:
- Phone:
- (319) 273-7050
Ricky Cano was named UNI's Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Event Operations in April 2025 after previously serving as an event manager for Panther athletic events and special events.
Cano oversees game management for selective sports and special events, work with student scheduling for internal and external events, and manage multiple outside event rentals.
Cano came to UNI after spending the last five years as a Sports Operations Assistant at Minnesota State University in Mankato, where he assisted in the oversight and coordination of the Maverick varsity athletic events and athletic-sponsored events on campus. He also oversaw a team of student interns and event staff and managed staffing for various positions to ensure the smooth operation of events.
While residing in Mankato, Cano also served as a facilities manager for the Highland Hills Apartment complex, oversaw facility and game day operations for the Mankato United Women’s Premier Soccer League and helped coordinate all of Minnesota State’s annual summer athletic camps on campus.
In 2016 and 2017, Cano joined the staff of the Janesville Jets of the North American Hockey League, assisting with setting up equipment throughout the arena for sponsorships, ticket sales and broadcasting equipment, ultimately serving as the organizations Assistant Director of Operations. Cano would join the Rockford Rivets of the Northwoods league during the 2018 season as its head of stadium operations, helping coordinate and scheduling staff, grounds crews clean-up and the general stadium operations team.
Cano graduated from Minnesota State in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in sports management and a minor in marketing, and is actively pursuing a Master’s degree at MSU in sports management.Â
