Chris King
Director of Athletics
Phone: 665-2221
Email:
kingca@utpa.edu
The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) hired Chris King as the institution’s Director of Athletics on September 2, 2009.
As the leader of Bronc Athletics, King’s proactive style and leadership has helped the department reach new heights and lay a solid foundation for future growth.
Over the past three years, revenue for the department has increased 265 percent, including a gain in corporate sponsorships of 164 percent, individual giving to the Broncs Athletics Fund increasing by 438 percent, and basketball ticket revenue growing 155 percent. Additionally, King has guided increased fundraising success from special events, as highlighted by the department’s primary fundraising event, the B.A.I.T. fishing tournament, raising a record $90,000 in 2012.
King has given equal attention to encouraging the academic achievements of the Bronc student-athletes and has increased the resources available to assist in their educational growth. With a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.94, Bronc student-athletes continue to maintain higher GPAs and graduation rates than their peers in the general UTPA student body. To recognize their academic accomplishments, King established the Athletic Director’s Cup to honor the Bronc teams with the highest GPA’s and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll to celebrate the student-athletes that successfully surpass a 3.0 GPA each academic semester.
In 2011-12, 178 student-athletes earned the honor, representing all 14 sports. Additionally, 26 UTPA student-athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors from the Great West Conference, five earned the honor from the America Sky Conference, and eight more were part of the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
King led the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics through the NCAA Certification Self-Study third-cycle from August 2010 through August 2011, receiving a certified status from the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.
In 2010, working with university officials, King transitioned academic advising services for student-athletes to the Learning Assistance Center (LAC). This action provided increased academic resources for the student-athletes with additional staff members and successful NCAA grant attainment of over $50,000 to purchase new computers and improve the functionality of the LAC. Also during this year, King instituted the P.O.W.E.R. Life Skills Program to enhance the holistic development of Bronc student-athletes in five core areas: Athletics, Academics, Personal Growth, Career and Community Service, and Leadership. The P.O.W.E.R. Center, a section of the LAC created specifically for student-athletes, opened in the spring of 2012.
Upon arriving at UTPA, King has emphasized a transparent and inclusive approach to strengthen procedural operations within the department. Important departmental initiatives implemented by King include a new compliance management system to improve the compliance integrity by UTPA coaches and athletic staff and an overhaul of the department’s budget auditing and expense monitoring procedures. After a year of evaluation and discussion with senior staff, coaches, and support personnel, King led the development of a three-year Strategic Plan for UTPA Athletics. This plan not only clearly identifies the mission and values for the department, but also lays out a comprehensive roadmap to identify and develop necessary improvements for the Broncs.
King’s leadership has also sparked considerable improvements that impact and enhance the relationship between UTPA Athletics and its constituents throughout the community.
One of King’s accomplishments has been the execution of a Title IX/Gender Equity Plan approved by the President’s Cabinet for Fiscal Year 2012 through Fiscal Year 2015. The plan includes adding 1.8 scholarships to fully fund baseball, 4.0 scholarships for men’s track & field, 1.5 scholarships for men’s golf and 1.5 scholarships for men’s tennis. Prior to the 2011-12 academic year, the tennis head coaching position was split into two positions, one to oversee the men’s team and one for the women’s team, while volleyball was able to add a full-time assistant coach. The golf head coaching position was split into separate positions prior to the 2012-13 academic year.
The summer of 2012 was busy for King, as he completed a deal with Coca-Cola Refreshments to get a brand new $250,000 Toshiba LED video board installed in the UTPA Fieldhouse. At 34.45’x11.81’, it is now the largest indoor video board in the Rio Grande Valley. The summer also saw the renovation of the Orville Cox Tennis Center, including the resurfacing of the courts and addition of new fencing, as well as renovations to the front entrance, walkways, wind screens, bleachers and restrooms; and the renovation of office space to create more space for women’s basketball, track and field, tennis and golf.
In 2012, UTPA Athletics also began the process to create a new online merchandise store for the Broncs. When launched,
www.UTPABroncsGear.com will feature more than 800 Bronc logo items for sale. The online partnership will also include increased marketing initiatives that include discounts and specials in conjunction with events and holidays.
Prior to the 2010-11, King spearheaded efforts to renovate and improve the safety and functionality of the UTPA Fieldhouse. The capital improvements included a new basketball court, telescoping bleachers that includes chair back seating on both the north and south sides of the facility, court side seating for basketball, and graphics and sponsorship improvements that increase the aesthetics and revenue-generating potential.
In order to strengthen the branding and marketing of UTPA Athletics, King unveiled updated athletic logos and word marks in the summer of 2010. The department also launched a new and improved athletics website, www.utpabroncs.com, powered by Sidearm, which included online ticketing, event registration, Bronc Athletic Fund donor management, and online merchandising with the Broncs Shop. King has directed consistent electronic communications and increased donor engagement through the use of the Scoutware software system and constituent database.
On campus, King serves as Co-Advisor and meets monthly with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has fostered active relationships with various campus departments and groups, including the UTPA Student Government Association and the UTPA Alumni Association. In addition to increasing the visibility of UTPA Athletics throughout the Rio Grande Valley, King serves on the Board of C.A.M.P. University and the Board of the McAllen Boys & Girls Club. King is also the Vice Chair of the Athletic Director’s Council and the Chair of the Men’s Basketball committee for the Great West Conference.
Prior to UTPA, King spent seven years at the University of Alabama. From 2002-2007, King lead the compliance department as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance before being promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Administration in 2007.
King’s athletic career began in 1995 at Campbell University as a compliance assistant. He then moved to Liberty University, where he was the director of compliance and special events. He later moved on to the University of Central Florida, where he served as an assistant athletic director for compliance and internal operations.
King is married to the former Alicia Flowers, who is a major gifts officer at UTPA. They reside in McAllen with their three year-old daughter, Kylie Marie.
Throughout every accomplishment and initiative, King recognizes the importance of the student-athlete and the responsibilities and importance that Bronc Athletics holds for the university and the community. He can be followed on Twitter
@UTPA_AD.
