Bucknell University Athletics
Michael McFarland Named Assistant AD for Facilities and Event Operations at Bucknell
6/23/2005 8:00:00 AM | General
June 23, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Michael McFarland, a familiar face among Patriot League athletics circles, has been named assistant athletic director for facilities and event operations at Bucknell, director of athletics and recreation John Hardt announced today. McFarland comes to Bucknell from the Patriot League headquarters in Center Valley, Pa., where he has served as associate executive director since 2000.
"With the wonderful new Kenneth Langone Athletics and Recreation Center being the cornerstone of a first-rate complement of athletics facilities at Bucknell, it was vital to locate a facility and event management administrator with outstanding experience and a keen familiarity of our program," said Hardt. "Michael McFarland is precisely that kind of fit. Through his outstanding work at the Patriot League, Michael has worked first-hand with many of our coaches, staff and student-athletes. He knows the layout and potential of our athletics facilities, and, most importantly, he has a deep commitment to Bucknell's student-centered mission. We're very excited to have Michael joining our management team."
In his new role, McFarland will serve as the day-to-day supervisor of athletic facilities and will coordinate all facility scheduling. He will monitor marketing and promotional activities for all 27 Bison varsity sports as well as handle scheduling, maintenance, preparation and event management issues for all activities. He will be tasked with managing Bucknell's facilities for all athletic events, university functions and outside special events. In addition, McFarland will act as the liaison with the campus facilities division and other university offices, such as reservations and conference scheduling, admissions and public safety.
"It is a great honor and pleasure to join the Bucknell University athletics program," said McFarland. "I am really looking forward to working with John Hardt and the entire Bucknell campus community. The town of Lewisburg, the Bucknell campus and the student-athletes offer exactly what my family and I were looking for as a next step in achieving my professional goals. I could not be more delighted to work with such a tremendous group of individuals nestled in such a wonderful college town. I hope to not only complement the strong tradition of success that Bucknell has achieved, but continue to enhance the student-athlete experience."
McFarland wore many hats as a veteran member of the Patriot League office. Chief among them was the operations oversight for each of the 23 league-sponsored championships, including the popular men's and women's basketball tournament. McFarland also managed the conference's basketball television package, including the scheduling and production of games.
Responsible for the promotion and publicity of the Patriot League, McFarland oversaw the league's marketing and sponsorship strategy while supervising the league's media relations team. He also acted as the chief liaison with several Patriot League committees, including facilities and operations, sports information, sports medicine, marketing, ticketing and television.
Before joining the Patriot League staff, McFarland spent five and a half years at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in Mission, Kan., first as the communications director and later as the assistant executive director. He was responsible for the editing of the NSCAA's Soccer Journal, a coaching educational periodical, managing the scholastic and collegiate rankings programs, sponsorship fulfillment and the association's publications.
McFarland is a 1991 graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., where he received a degree in corporate communication and was an all-conference soccer player. He received a master's degree in sport administration from Western Illinois University in 1994.
He also served as sports information director while at Western Illinois. In addition to his responsibilities of media coverage for the 18 varsity programs at WIU, he handled marketing, promotions and fundraising projects. Previously he worked in the sports information offices at Lindenwood and West Virginia Wesleyan College.
McFarland, who has remained active in the sport of soccer as a youth coach and official, comes to Lewisburg along with his wife, Cari, and daughters Raely and Aydan.
Bucknell sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports, including 14 for women, at the Division I level (I-AA football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 11 of the 15 years it has been contested. Bucknell led the nation with a 100 percent graduation rate in the 2003 survey and ranks third in Division I in producing Academic All-Americans.
