UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — University at Buffalo Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt has announced that Nate Wills has been promoted to Deputy Athletic Director, Chief Operating Officer. Wills was promoted from Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration, a position he held since 2013.
“I’ve been very impressed with our leadership team during my transition to UB,” Alnutt said. “Nate has been a valuable contributor who is very well respected in our department and on campus. I have complete confidence and highly regard his counsel and expertise in the important internal areas that affect our day to day operations of this enterprise. I look forward to continuing to work with Nate as he grows professionally and more importantly helps guide our department to future unprecedented successes.”
Wills works closely with Alnutt on the day-to-day operations of UB Athletics’ 16-team, $35M department. He supervises the department’s internal units and functions, having direct responsibility for Business/Financial Operations, Human Resources, Facility & Event Management, Equipment Operations and Information Technology while also serving as the sport administrator for the football program.
Resource allocation and efficiency, contracts, capital planning & design and project management are also among his key areas of oversight while providing a leadership role with UB Athletics’ strategic planning and execution as well as the department’s comprehensive facility master plan. Additionally, Wills assists in the procurement and management of the equipment/apparel, pouring rights, concessions, ticketing and multi-media rights agreements for the department.
Wills joined the Bulls after serving the 2012-2013 year as the Associate Athletics Director for Facilities & Operations at Old Dominion University. While there, Wills oversaw the facility, event and project management for ODU Athletics’ venues while also assisting with the planning and management for the reclassification of the football program from FCS to FBS.
Prior to ODU, Wills was the Director of Events at Fresno State University, managing the event operations and project management for all Fresno State Athletics venues from 2007-2010 before being elevated to Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations. During his time at Fresno State, he served as the project manager for the construction of the $7.5M Aquatics Complex and the $6.2M Meyers Sports Medicine Center, as well as sport administrator for the men’s and women’s golf teams.
In addition to his time at ODU and Fresno State, Wills served as the Director of Facilities & Operations for Peden Stadium (2005-2007) and Graduate Assistant for Facilities & Operations (2003-2005) at Ohio University, where he was responsible for event, facility and project management for various Ohio Athletics venues.
A native of Reedsville, PA, Wills graduated from Slippery Rock University in May 2003 with a degree in Sport Management, where he worked in the athletics department as a student. He also earned his master of sport administration and MBA from Ohio University in June 2005.
Wills and his wife Katie, have two children, Mason and Logan.
