Austin Peay State University (APSU)
Clarksville, TN – Marcus Hilliard, who most recently served Assistant Athletics Director for Administration at UCF, has been hired as Austin Peay State University’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs, athletics director Gerald Harrison announced this week.
Hilliard will join the athletics department and will have primary oversight over the department’s external units: Govs Club, Communications, Marketing and Fan Experience, Ticketing, Video and Social Media. In addition, he will provide oversight for Baseball, Band, and Cheer teams. He will also be the department’s primary contact for Peak Sports Management – the department’s partner for corporate sponsorships.
“I am so excited to welcome Marcus to the Austin Peay State University Family,” said Harrison. “He will be a valuable member of our executive team. His prior experience in ticket operations, marketing, development and constituent relations make him an ideal fit for this position. Marcus has a passion for telling the student-athlete story and enhancing their experience that will also make him a great leader of our external affairs division and sport administrator. Most importantly, he understands what it means to ‘See Red’ and our relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Prior to his two seasons at UCF, Hilliard spent seven years at Duke in a tenure that coincided with Harrison’s time at the Durham, North Carolina university. While with the Blue Devils, Hilliard rose through the ranks ultimately serving as Director of the Iron Dukes Varsity Club before departing for UCF in 2016.
“I’m truly humbled to be presented with an opportunity to serve at Austin Peay State University,” said Hilliard. “I look forward to joining Gerald’s executive team and assisting him in further enhancing the championship culture with our Govs student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, fans, supporters, and the Clarksville community. I can’t wait to get started and join the Govs family.”
Serving in college athletics runs in the family for Hilliard. His father, David Cutcliffe, is a long time college football coach who is currently serving as the head coach at Duke and previously served as assistant head coach/offensive Coordinator at Tennessee and head coach at Ole Miss.
A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Hilliard obtained a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Tennessee where he also served as a student equipment manager for the Vols. He completed his master’s degree in sport management from North Carolina State University.
In addition to Hilliard’s hiring, Harrison announced the following promotions within the athletics department. Lisa Varytimidis will be the Governors Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs and the department’s Senior Woman Administrator. Tara Pfeifler will move into a role as an Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance and Sara Robson will join her as an Assistant Director of Athletics for Operations.
“Lisa, Sara and Tara are valuable members of our athletics infrastructure, they are more than deserving of these titles and appointment to our executive team. I am excited to continue to work with them as aim daily to enhance the total student athlete experience”
