Former Sr Assoc Director of Athletics for External Affairs/SWA, Florida State University
Allison Rich has over 16 years of experience as an intercollegiate athletics administrator. She has significant leadership and decision-making experience having served at the NCAA national office and at both large state and small private institutions. She has been intimately involved in academic support, compliance, fiscal management, external affairs, and sport oversight, giving her a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
Rich served most recently as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs/Senior Woman Administrator at Florida State University. At FSU, she was responsible for all external functions of the department which included long range planning and implementation of strategies, along with day-to-day oversight, management and leadership. Rich negotiated new television contracts and worked closely with the department’s corporate rights holder. During her tenure at FSU, the institution experienced unprecedented growth and success in marketing, promotions and sponsorships for all sports, created new social media avenues and website enhancements, and developed both an outbound ticket sales staff and an advance group sales program. Florida State Athletics is now recognized as a leader in ticketing and social media initiatives.
As at previous institutions, in her capacity as Senior Woman Administrator, Rich monitored and addressed all aspects of gender and minority equity. Also while at FSU, Rich served on the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification and its Executive Committee, and was instrumental in discussions about revamping the certification process while ensuring a vehicle for maintaining institutional control and a level playing field.
Before moving to Florida State, Rich served as the Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator at California State University, Fullerton. There she worked with all Athletics programs and services, supervised administrators and coaches, developed department policy and goals, and helped shape short and long range strategic plans. In addition, Rich handled all legal, personnel and contract matters, and provided oversight of audits, reviews and NCAA certification.
Rich has served as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs at the University of the Pacific, and at the NCAA National Office and Loyola University Chicago. Rich earned her bachelor’s degree at Princeton University, her Juris Doctorate at Chicago Kent College of Law, and her Doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of the Pacific. She is a Sports Management Institute Executive Program graduate. Licensed to practice law, Rich is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association Board of Directors. She is also a member of NACDA, NACWAA, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.