Tyler Mariucci Named CBU Director of Athletics; Introductory Press Conference on April 27

RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University has named Tyler Mariucci as the Director of Athletics as announced by CBU President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis on Friday and an introductory press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, at 10 a.m.

"Tyler will bring exceptional leadership and experience in athletics administration to Lancer Nation," said Dr. Ellis. "His background at several reputable programs with strong outcomes in generating external support and a commitment to the student-athlete experience both in the field of competition and in the classroom will allow us to build on our commitment to excellence in athletics and academics."

Mariucci has worked in leadership roles at NCAA Division I institutions spanning the Big Ten, WCC and Mountain West Conference during great transformation and change, including multiple conference realignments and significant increases in revenue generation.

Most recently at San Diego State, Mariucci was a member of the athletic director's senior staff as the Associate Athletics Director for Development and Executive Director of the Aztec Club where he managed the Aztec Club staff and was a liaison to the JMI Legends premium sales team. During the 2019-20 fiscal year the Aztec club set a national standard by setting all-time school records of $33.6 million in pledges and commitments, $6.1 million in the annual fund and total donors, while helping lead the single largest capital campaign in athletics history: The $100 million Campaign for Aztec Stadium.

Prior to SDSU, while at the University of San Diego as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development, the university completed a $300 million campus-wide campaign, the single largest comprehensive campaign in university history. Mariucci also led a national search, which yielded Chris Riley, the only PGA Tour Ryder Cup member to ever be named a Division I head coach. As a member of the athletic director's executive team, Tyler had a major role in the formation of the USD athletics new strategic plan: "Winning in the Classroom, Winning on the Playing Field and Winning in the Community," which details a plan and timeline for the future success of intercollegiate athletics.

"I'm very excited and honored to become the next Director of Athletics at CBU during this transformational time in the university's history," Mariucci said. "The commitment and strong conviction from university leadership to not only compete at the Division I level, but to win at the highest level is exciting for me to be a part of and to lead. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity as well as President Ellis and Kent Dacus for believing in me with this great responsibility. My family and I cannot wait to get to Riverside. Lance Up!"

Prior to SDSU, while at the University of Maryland, Mariucci was a member of the athletic director's management team that successfully navigated the university's transition into the Big Ten Conference from the Atlantic Coast Conference. During the first two years as a Big Ten member, Maryland won the most Big Ten championships and broke ground on a $150+ million football facility. Additionally, Tyler was a sport supervisor for a number of teams including women's basketball, wrestling and field hockey among others that produced six conference championships, four NCAA tournament appearances and 29 Academic All-Americans.

Mariucci started his collegiate career with stops as the assistant athletic director for development at University of Memphis and director of major gifts at Fresno State. Tyler also has experience as an administrator, teacher and coach at Valley Christian High School in San Jose. In addition, Mariucci is heavily involved with two non-profit organizations, the Football Camp for the Stars, a camp for athletes with down syndrome, and AD's for Christ.

"Over the past year, our search for an athletics director attracted many qualified candidates," said Kent Dacus, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services. "Tyler stood out as the person to lead us forward through the current NCAA transition process and beyond. We are blessed to have Tyler lead our athletics department as we continue to move forward in meeting the vision put in place by Dr. Ellis."

The Lancers are in year three of competing at the NCAA Division I level primarily as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. As of late March, the Lancers were leading the 2020-21 WAC Commissioner's Cup standings and their six league titles ranked tops in the country tied with the Texas Longhorns.

As much success as the Lancers have had athletically, they have also done so academically. CBU's student-athletes have boasted over a 3.0 GPA the last 17 semesters, including a department record 3.445 GPA in 2019-20.

In regard to facilities, CBU opened the $73 million Events Center, home of the men's and women's basketball programs, in 2017. Prior to COVID-19 related event attendance restrictions, CBU men's basketball attendance ranked fourth among the 14 DI programs in Southern California only behind San Diego State, UCLA and USC during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Additionally, CBU built the Athletics Performance Center in 2019. The APC features a 10,800-square-foot weight room, the largest of the NCAA Division I non-football institutions in the State of California. The facility also includes a dedicated nutrition space, a basketball practice facility, and a six-lane, 30-yard training area among other amenities.

Mariucci takes the reigns of the CBU athletics department after the departure of Dr. Micah Parker in May of last year. Parker held the position for 11 years before accepting a similar position at Northwestern College. Industry veteran Ron Prettyman has been serving as the Interim Athletics Director since September.

A former Division I FCS football student-athlete at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Mariucci graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2007, before receiving his master's in kinesiology/sports management from San Jose State in 2010. Tyler also graduated from the Sports Management Institute held at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Georgia and was the peer-selected class commencement speaker.

Mariucci, the son of former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci, is a third-generation collegiate student-athlete following the linage of his father (Northern Michigan) and grandfather (Michigan State). Tyler's uncle Bob Mariucci has served as the Director of Athletics at Cuesta College for over 20 years. Tyler and his wife Jennifer are looking forward to relocating to Riverside with their two sons, Kyle and Colt.

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Tyler Mariucci Named CBU Director of Athletics; Introductory Press Conference on April 27

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Tyler Mariucci Named CBU Director of Athletics; Introductory Press Conference on April 27

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