8/3/2023 3:16:00 PM | General, Maverick Club, Athletic Alumni
ARLINGTON – Possessing two decades of donor stewardship and event hosting, Ira Childress has been tabbed to lead UT Arlington's fundraising efforts as the Mavericks' Associate AD for Development.
Â
Childress joins UTA from LSU, where he served as the football program's Assistant AD for Player Relations. He boasts a robust advancement, alumni relations and leadership background with stops at Dartmouth, the NCAA National Office, Ferris State and twice as a high school AD.
Â
"I'm elated to join UTA, and I look forward to working collaboratively with our staff to support student-athletes and coaches," said Childress. "Equally, I can't wait to meet and build relationships with our outstanding alumni and supporters. This is an exciting time to be a Maverick, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it."
Â
Throughout his career, Childress – who will begin his duties with UTA on Aug. 10 – has secured millions of fundraising dollars through major gifts and corporate sponsorships, while executing a plethora of community and alumni events to engage and facilitate donor cultivation.
Â
Childress joined Brian Kelly's staff at LSU in January of 2022, and spent the past 18 months as the primary liaison between the football program and campus community. Prior to that he served as the Assistant AD for External Relations at Dartmouth, managing donor communications and stewardship, and alumni and supporter events.
Â
His time in Hanover, N.H., came after stints as the Director of Athletics at both prestigious Gulliver Prep in Miami (2019-21) and Okemos High School in Michigan (2013-19). While leading all aspects of both athletic departments, Childress hired Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen as Gulliver's head boys' varsity basketball coach, and at Okemos he spearheaded a $600,000 donation for facility improvements.
Â
As a result of his creativity and vision to provide forward-thinking solutions and championship experiences for student-athletes, coaches and the community, Childress was a finalist for the Varsity Brands National High School Athletic Director of the Year in both 2019 at Okemos and 2020 at Gulliver Prep.
Â
"Ira's diverse professional background will benefit not only our athletic department but the entire university," stated UTA Director of Athletics Jon Fagg. "His cultivation approach and relationship-building character will result in him being a tremendous ambassador for UTA. I'm thrilled to welcome Ira to Arlington."
Â
As an Assistant Director of Leadership Development at the NCAA from 2008-11, Childress provided innovative programming that helped positively impact hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and administrators. He created and implemented the first-ever NCAA Sports and Entertainment Summit – resulting in career opportunities for numerous student-athlete participants – and also coordinated fan-engagement events at the Final Four and Women's College World Series.
Â
Childress got his start in advancement at his alma mater, Ferris State, beginning as the university's Assistant Director of Alumni Relations in 2003 and leaving as its Associate Director in 2008. In those roles, he developed and executed strategic initiatives which resulted in several major gifts and improved constituent relationships.
Â
A best-selling author of the book Beating the Odds: From Poverty to Prominence, Childress is a native of Baldwin, Mich., and a two-time graduate of Ferris State. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Applied Speech Communication in 2003 and his Master of Science in Education in 2005.
Â
Childress was also a scholarship football player with the Bulldogs, and member of the 1999 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship team which finished two games ahead of archrival and then Brian Kelly-led Grand Valley State.
Â
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos and videos, follow UTA Athletics online at UTAMavs.com or via several social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) @UTAMavs, Instagram @UTAMavs and Facebook /UTAMavs.
Â
Childress joins UTA from LSU, where he served as the football program's Assistant AD for Player Relations. He boasts a robust advancement, alumni relations and leadership background with stops at Dartmouth, the NCAA National Office, Ferris State and twice as a high school AD.
Â
"I'm elated to join UTA, and I look forward to working collaboratively with our staff to support student-athletes and coaches," said Childress. "Equally, I can't wait to meet and build relationships with our outstanding alumni and supporters. This is an exciting time to be a Maverick, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it."
Â
Throughout his career, Childress – who will begin his duties with UTA on Aug. 10 – has secured millions of fundraising dollars through major gifts and corporate sponsorships, while executing a plethora of community and alumni events to engage and facilitate donor cultivation.
Â
Childress joined Brian Kelly's staff at LSU in January of 2022, and spent the past 18 months as the primary liaison between the football program and campus community. Prior to that he served as the Assistant AD for External Relations at Dartmouth, managing donor communications and stewardship, and alumni and supporter events.
Â
His time in Hanover, N.H., came after stints as the Director of Athletics at both prestigious Gulliver Prep in Miami (2019-21) and Okemos High School in Michigan (2013-19). While leading all aspects of both athletic departments, Childress hired Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen as Gulliver's head boys' varsity basketball coach, and at Okemos he spearheaded a $600,000 donation for facility improvements.
Â
As a result of his creativity and vision to provide forward-thinking solutions and championship experiences for student-athletes, coaches and the community, Childress was a finalist for the Varsity Brands National High School Athletic Director of the Year in both 2019 at Okemos and 2020 at Gulliver Prep.
Â
"Ira's diverse professional background will benefit not only our athletic department but the entire university," stated UTA Director of Athletics Jon Fagg. "His cultivation approach and relationship-building character will result in him being a tremendous ambassador for UTA. I'm thrilled to welcome Ira to Arlington."
Â
As an Assistant Director of Leadership Development at the NCAA from 2008-11, Childress provided innovative programming that helped positively impact hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and administrators. He created and implemented the first-ever NCAA Sports and Entertainment Summit – resulting in career opportunities for numerous student-athlete participants – and also coordinated fan-engagement events at the Final Four and Women's College World Series.
Â
Childress got his start in advancement at his alma mater, Ferris State, beginning as the university's Assistant Director of Alumni Relations in 2003 and leaving as its Associate Director in 2008. In those roles, he developed and executed strategic initiatives which resulted in several major gifts and improved constituent relationships.
Â
A best-selling author of the book Beating the Odds: From Poverty to Prominence, Childress is a native of Baldwin, Mich., and a two-time graduate of Ferris State. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Applied Speech Communication in 2003 and his Master of Science in Education in 2005.
Â
Childress was also a scholarship football player with the Bulldogs, and member of the 1999 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship team which finished two games ahead of archrival and then Brian Kelly-led Grand Valley State.
Â
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos and videos, follow UTA Athletics online at UTAMavs.com or via several social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) @UTAMavs, Instagram @UTAMavs and Facebook /UTAMavs.
Tuesday, September 15
Thursday, August 27
Thursday, July 23
Tuesday, May 13
