Cleveland State University announced the hiring of Scott Garrett as the seventh athletic director with a press conference April 8. Garrett is a Channahon, Illinois native and is now working at his third college in the last 15 years. Garrett makes his way to Cleveland State after spending the previous nine years at Kansas State University working as the executive associate athletic director for external operations along with being the chief revenue officer. Garrett helped manage the department’s ticketing, fan experience and branding initiatives that helped create a streak of 39 consecutive sellouts in football in recent years. Ticket revenue also grew from $13.6 million to just over $18 million in the seven-year span during his time at Kansas State. Following his press conference, Garrett acknowledged his excitement to help change the culture within Cleveland State athletics and lead it in the right direction. “I’m most excited for providing leadership and getting to know our student athletes and coaches,” Garrett said, “contributing to the mission of the university and working with President Sands and his senior leadership team on moving the whole university forward.”
Garrett will begin his duties as athletic director beginning April 24.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Illinois State University in 2002 and a master’s degree in sports management and athletics administration from the University of Indiana in 2003. Garrett went on to explain in a separate interview that the opportunity at Cleveland State is a good fit for him and he’s excited to help lift the athletic programs on campus. “Cleveland State is a great fit, all the people have been great, and I think our family will fit in nicely,” he explained. “We’re really excited for the opportunity and there is tremendous opportunity here to move the athletic programs forward and I look forward to being here and getting to work.” Mike Thomas was the school’s previous athletic director for fewer than 22 months after signing a five-year deal in February 2017.
Cleveland Stater reporter Mike Trivisonno covered the press conference to welcome Scott Garrett as the school’s seventh athletic director. After the conference, he caught up with Garrett for a few questions.
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