After a four-month search, the University of Missouri-Kansas City announced Dr. Brandon Martin as the Roos new Director of Athletics Wednesday morning. Following his appointment, CollegeAD had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Marting about the opportunity UMKC presents as well as goals he has set for early in his tenure.
“I’m delighted to serve and join the UMKC family,” -Dr. Brandon Martin, new UMKC Director of Athletics
“I see an opportunity to be in alignment with the overall university mission, the values, and mandates,” Martin told CollegeAD. “Number one, everything that we do will be in alignment with the university goals, particularly the new strategic plan that they have in place, set forth by Chancellor Agrawal.”
Part of the Chancellor’s vision is invigorating school culture and spirit. Martin says that’s the responsibility of the entire university and community as a whole. He has a plan for his first 100 days that will help raise the level of engagement on campus.
“I want to build a culture based on a comprehensive excellence,” explains Martin. “I want our coaches every day to be thinking about ‘how can I make my team better, how can I make my student-athletes better, how can I be a better guide, a better guardian for our student-athletes.’”
In his previous AD role, Martin served as the Director of Athletics at California State University, Northridge. From 2013-18, Martin lead the day-to-day operations of CSUN’s Division I athletics program that included a $15.8 million operating budget, 19 sport programs, and over 400 student-athletes.
In Martin’s tenure Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at CSUN, he initiated a new administrative structure within the intercollegiate athletics department, proposed a comprehensive vision and oversaw a series of historic moments in CSUN’s athletics history. Propelled by his mantra of comprehensive excellence, Martin pioneered the addition of Beach Volleyball as CSUN’s 19th intercollegiate sport and hired three new head coaches in Men’s Basketball, Baseball and Women’s Golf. In 2016-17, CSUN Athletics boasted 99 student-athletes named to their conferences’ All-Academic Teams.
Martin is ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work when he officially begins his new role on December 3.
“One of the first things I have to do is I have the get the external unit in place. The external unit has been lacking, for lack of a better word, over the over the past few years. And it’s my job to get that unit in place.”
Martin says he plans to put in place a Deputy AD, Director of Marketing and a Director of Development. He wants to make sure they have the right people in place to elevate ticket sales, assist with enhanced corporate sponsorships, and bring in major gifts.
“Revenue generation and resource acquisitions is extremely important,” says Martin. “Then we really want to see if we can elevate men’s and women’s basketball. We want Sweeny sold out. We want that thing rocking and rolling and, and people excited about what we’re doing. We have to inspire the people of Kansas City.”
CollegeAD’s conversation with Dr. Brandon Martin first appeared in the NightCap, a new nightly email recapping the day’s college atheltics news. Get the NightCap delivered to your inbox.