Photo by: Paul White
ACU tabs De León as program's eighth director of athletics
11/13/2014 11:40:00 AM | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Men's Track and Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball, Cross Country, Track & Field
ABILENE, Texas – When Lee De León was 11 years old he saw the movie "Rudy" and decided he wanted to attend the University of Notre Dame.
He did and graduated from there in 2004 with a B.B.A. degree in marketing.
While he was a sophomore at Notre Dame, he determined his life's calling was to someday be the director of athletics for a university. But it couldn't be just any university.
De León was determined it be a place where he could "make an impact for Christ through college athletics."
That opportunity presented itself earlier this fall when Jared Mosley resigned as the director of athletics at Abilene Christian University, and De León fulfilled the goal he's pursued for more than 10 years on Thursday when ACU president Dr. Phil Schubert introduced him as the eighth director of athletics in Wildcat history.
"After an extensive national search, I believe we've found a leader whose commitment to faith influences all aspects of his life and who he is," Schubert said of De León, who will begin his duties Dec. 1. "Lee also has broad experience in intercollegiate athletics and has been a part of several highly successful NCAA Division I programs. I believe that experience will give him great perspective as we continue to navigate our transition to Division I."
De León becomes the third person to lead Wildcat athletics who didn't attend Abilene Christian, joining the first director of athletics, A.B. "Bugs" Morris, who served from 1927-69; and Shanon Hays, who served from 2002-03. But the native of Houston is excited to be back in Texas and specifically at ACU.
"I feel so blessed and honored to serve as the director of athletics here," De León said. "As soon as I set foot on campus, I knew it was a special place. As a Christian university in my home state that recently joined the NCAA Division I ranks, it's the perfect fit – spiritually, academically and athletically – for my family and me."
Prior to this new role at ACU, De León was the associate director of athletics for development and executive director of the Lobo Club at the University of New Mexico. While there he was in charge of UNM's development office for athletics – the Lobo Club – which raises funds for all Lobo teams, programs and student-athletes.
Last year, the club enrolled 4,500 members, the largest total in its 82-year history. De León also managed all facets of a $75 million capital campaign for athletics. In 2013, he led the Lobo Club to its second-highest giving total ever at UNM.
"I am very happy for Lee," UNM vice president for athletics Paul Krebs said. "He and his family have been a vital part of our department the last three years. He has done a great job with our Lobo Club and is an excellent fundraiser. We wish Lee and his family well as they embark on this new chapter of his career."
Prior to joining the staff at New Mexico, De León served three years at the University of Arizona, first as the director of annual giving before being promoted to assistant athletics director for major gifts and annual giving. He was involved in all facets of its Wildcat Club, including major gifts and annual fund, while helping the organization enroll a then-record 9,500 members in 2011.
Before his stop in Tucson, Ariz., Lee spent three years at the University of Houston as the assistant director of marketing and later, director of marketing. He led marketing and promotions work for ticketed sports, and managed marketing for football and men's basketball.
De León also worked at Louisiana State University in 2005 as a marketing assistant for women's soccer.
After graduating from Notre Dame in 2004, De León earned his master's degree in sports management from Texas A&M University in 2005. He met his wife, Lacey, at Texas A&M and they have been married seven years and have two sons: Landon (3) and Luke (one week old).
"I have devoted the last 10 years of my career to preparing to lead an athletics program, and I am humbled to have been selected by Dr. Schubert to have that opportunity at a university as prestigious as ACU," De León said. "With the fifth-most national team championships in NCAA history, it's clear that ACU athletics has a rich tradition of excellence. The future is incredibly bright as we move forward in our second year at the Division I level and I can't wait to help build upon the momentum."
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