Miami Ohio University Athletics
Okel Named Assistant AD for Development
5/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has hired Brad Okel as its Associate Director/Assistant AD for Development.
With Miami, Okel will focus on building relationships and increasing philanthropic support from alumni and friends locally, regionally, and nationally."
"We are very excited to welcome Brad to our development team," said Coleman Barnes, Associate Athletic Director for Development. "His proven success as a fundraiser will enable him to cultivate relationships quickly and generate the philanthropic support that we need to assist us with the Graduating Champions Campaign. As a former golf student-athlete at Miami University - Hamilton, Brad also brings the necessary energy and passion that it takes to be successful in securing private support to enhance the student-athlete experience."
Okel joins Miami after spending the past five years with the University of Cincinnati, most recently serving as the associate director of the University of Cincinnati Foundation since 2014. In that role, he helped raise $40 million for Nippert Stadium's renovation and expansion project. He also worked with the Bearcats' baseball team to establish a campaign towards raising $2.8 million in stadium renovations.
"I would like to thank David Sayler, Coleman Barnes and the Miami University Development Team for this opportunity to join Miami Athletics," said Okel. "It is an honor to be involved with such a tremendous institution and strong alumni base. I am excited to get to work in furthering the mission and vision of Graduating Champions."
Prior to 2014, Okel served two years as the Assistant Director of Development for UCATS, where he helped increase donations to both the volleyball and men's swimming and diving programs. He also secured a $10,000 leadership gift for the Bearcats' track and field locker room renovation and managed alumni events for volleyball, men's swimming and diving and track and field. Before that, he began his stint at UC as a UCATS Customer Service Advisor and their IMG College Game Day Implementation intern.
Okel is quite familiar with the Cincinnati area, earning a Bachelor of Arts with honors in communication from the University of Cincinnati in 2010 and obtaining a Masters of Education in Sport Administration from Xavier University in 2012.
Okel and his wife, Brittany, have one daughter named Nora (1).
