OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha native and UNO alum Mike West will join the Omaha Athletics staff as an Executive Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs. Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell made the announcement Friday afternoon, and West will start with the Mavericks April 4.
 
West will oversee external affairs including ticketing, the Baxter Arena box office, sports marketing, communications, creative services, video production, and community relations units with the Mavericks. He is currently serving as a Deputy Athletic Director at the University of South Dakota.
 
"We are excited to welcome Mike back home to UNO," said Dowell. "Mike is one of the most talented and effective marketers in the industry. He delivers a wealth of relevant experience in intercollegiate athletics and specifically in the Omaha market from his successful tenure at Creighton and in the private sector. We are excited to see his impact as we build our brand and fan base to provide a positive experience and atmosphere for Maverick student-athletes."
 
West began his role with the Coyotes in 2019 overseeing the day-to-day operations of the athletic department including the areas of athletic marketing, sports information, ticketing, Coyote Sports Properties and development. He also took on sports administration duties.
 
Prior to South Dakota, West spent six years in the private sector where he owned and operate MTT Management, a consulting firm that works with sports organizations and community events. He worked closely with the Omaha Lances, Ralston Arena, and the Pinnacle Bank Championship. Since 2015, West has also served as the CEO of the Omaha Equestrian Foundation that brought the 2017 FEI World Cup Finals to Omaha.
 
Before his transition to the private sector, West served as the Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing at Creighton for 11 years. Under his watch, basketball, baseball, and men's soccer all achieved annual top-10 attendance rankings. He increased the department's sponsorship sales from $400,000 to $2 million and nearly tripled men's basketball season ticket holders and associated ticketing and gift revenues.
 
West oversaw women's basketball, baseball, and cross country for the Bluejays, while also managing the day-to-day promotions and creating, preparing, and implementing marketing plans.
 
Prior to Creighton, West was the tournament director of the Cox Classic Professional Golf Tournament in Omaha. He helped increase sponsorship sales from $275,000 to over $1 million in just five years.
 
West, a 1993 graduate of UNO, earned his bachelor's degree in education. He went on to Wayne State where he completed his master's degree in sports management in 1996.
 
"I am so excited to have the opportunity to return to Omaha," said West. "My ties to UNO are extensive as an alum and former assistant softball coach. Some of my earliest memories are watching games with my parents who worked for the university. I'm looking forward to getting back to a city where I've spent so much time and grateful to Adrian Dowell for the opportunity to work at my alma mater."