Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield has selected Erick Harper as UNLV's next athletics director, replacing Desiree Reed-Francois, who left to accept the Athletic Director position at the University of Missouri. Harper had served as interim UNLV athletics director since August.
"Erick has a strong track record in intercollegiate athletics and tremendous passion for our university, our student-athletes, and our coaches," said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield. "He's also vested in our community and has a vision for the program that I believe will continue the momentum we've built and lead us to new levels of success in all areas of Rebel athletics."
Harper has served the last nine years as UNLV's senior associate athletics director for development and was appointed interim athletics director on Aug.
16. As athletics director, Harper will continue to oversee all aspects of the athletics program and the Thomas & Mack Center, including general operations, fiscal affairs, facilities, strategic planning and external relations.
"It's a great privilege to serve UNLV as its next Director of Athletics, and I'm thankful to President Whitfield and the search committee for this incredible opportunity," said Harper. "Our department culture will be built on trust, empathy, compassion, care, growth and accountability, and we will have a dedicated team of coaches and staff who are driven to win championships, graduate our student-athletes and help them achieve at the highest level. I look forward to further engaging with our community and working with campus colleagues to make Rebel fans proud."
Prior to UNLV, Harper was associate athletics director for football operations at the University of Arizona from 2003 to 2011. He began his athletics administrative career at Kansas State University (1990-2003), where he served in development, marketing, and compliance roles and as a sport administrator for multiple sports.
