JOHN DAVID WICKER NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT SAN DIEGO STATE

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

October 25, 2016 (San Diego) - John David Wicker has been named San Diego State University's new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The announcement was made today by SDSU President Elliot Hirshman.

"It feels great to be back on the Mesa," Wicker said. "I loved my four years here with the coaches, the staff and all the student athletes. I'm thrilled with this opportunity and I am looking forward to helping SDSU Athletics move to next level of success."

Wicker was SDSU's Deputy Athletic Director from 2011 until leaving for Georgia Tech in July 2015. During his first term at SDSU he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Aztecs athletics department, overseeing business operations, human resources, events and facilities, capital projects, strength and conditioning, academics, video and sport oversight for football, rowing, and men's and women's basketball.

"When we began this search, we envisioned a person who cares about our student athletes, whose integrity is paramount and whose competitive fire inspires greatness. In short, someone who embodies our ideal of `winning it right.' John David Wicker is that person," said President Elliot Hirshman.

Prior to his time at SDSU, he was the Associate Athletic Director for Event and Facility Operations at Washington State from 2001-2011. While at Washington State, he was responsible for event planning and game day responsibilities for all home athletic events, conference tournaments and NCAA championships, day-to-day oversight and operations of all athletic facilities, and the liaison for the athletic department on capital projects.

From 1999 to 2001 Wicker served as Director of Event and Facility Operations at Southern Miss. At USM, he oversaw regular season and championship event operations, coordinated day-to-day maintenance of facilities, and was the liaison to the university on all capital projects. He also oversaw the design and initial construction of USM's $11 million Athletic Center, which houses administrative and coaching offices, football locker room, weight room and training area.

Wicker also spent three years at Georgia, from (1996-1999), where he also worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics as the venue logistics manager for Sanford Stadium, home to the medal rounds for men's and women's soccer.

Wicker takes over an athletic department that has enjoyed great success in recent years. The football team, which is 6-1 this season, has been to six straight bowl games. Men's basketball has been to the post season seven straight years. Teams, from water polo to men's and women's golf, to baseball and softball, have combined for 32 Mountain West championships since the beginning of the 2012-1013 year.

"One of our top priorities will be to generate more excitement about Aztec Athletics on campus, in the community, and with our close to 300,000 alumni across the nation," Wicker said. "People around the country know what an incredible atmosphere Viejas Arena is. And that is in no small part because of the fans. There is no reason why we can't have a similar atmosphere at our football games, at Tony Gwynn Stadium for baseball, on the Sports Deck for soccer games and more."

Wicker graduated from Mississippi State in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in professional accountancy. He received his master's degree in education with an emphasis in sports management from Georgia in 1997.

He is expected to begin work at SDSU on Nov. 28. Terms of his contract are being finalized and are not yet available. Wicker and his wife Rachel have a daughter, Scarlett Anne.

Aztec Men's Basketball Head Coach Steve Fisher on the hiring of John David Wicker:

"This is a very good hire. We're bringing a guy home who knows the landscape, knows the people, worked well with us when he was here and he gets things done. I anticipate the same thing happening now."

Aztec Softball Head Coach Kathy Van Wyk on the search for SDSU's new athletic director:

"I can honestly say he wasn't the front runner all along. We had every intention of going in and finding the right person. As you go through the process, you're reading a lot of paperwork and you spend a limited amount of time with people and try to get to know them as best you could. When you're talking about morals and ethics and all of those things, we had the opportunity to work with JD before. We knew how he worked. That obviously factors into it and it was a no-brainer when it came down to it."

"We asked all of the candidates what they saw as most important factors for us moving forward and the big piece is looking at the football stadium and trying to find a way into the Power 5. We all know that that's our next step so how are we going to do that? Our new leader is going to be key in us making those moves."