Mack B. Rhoades

Director of Athletics

Mack Rhoades became the 11th director of athletics in UH history with his hiring in June 2009 after an award-winning career at the University of Akron.

Sweeping changes, a $61.6 million on-campus football stadium, the creation of a women’s golf program and unprecedented success within an athletics department recognized three times for its diversity strategy were only a small part of Rhoades’ signature on the Akron program. All the on-field success was matched off the field as well. In 2006, Akron’s federal graduation rate was 60 percent, exceeding the general student body’s by 25 percent. In 2008, UA’s student-athlete federal graduation rate stood at 75 percent. Rhoades led Akron to success while balancing the budget each of his last three years.

He served as a member of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet — also serving on the Administrative Committee of that cabinet as well as leading the communications committee for the Mid-American Conference.

Rhoades came to Akron after a seven-year stint at UTEP, where he most recently served as the executive senior associate athletics director. He worked his way up the ranks with the Miners after joining the staff as assistant AD for development. In his final role with UTEP, Rhoades oversaw all fundraising, the marketing and media relations offices as well as football external operations, men’s basketball, men’s golf, licensing, Miner Athletic Club and the athletics ticket office. While at UTEP, Rhoades administered the Athletic Major Gift Program, through which $9.1 million was raised.

Prior to UTEP, he worked for 15 months at Marquette, where he was the athletics advancement officer. He also worked for one year as an athletics marketing assistant for Yale, where he developed marketing plans for football, men’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and the NCAA Fencing Championships.

A graduate of the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Rhoades later attended Indiana University where he earned his master’s degree in sports management and marketing. He and his wife, Amy, have three daughters — Nicolette, Natalie and Noelle.