Dec. 10, 2003
(San Diego, CA) -- Ky Snyder has been selected Executive Director of Athletics/Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, it was announced today by Dr. Mary E. Lyons, USD President. Snyder, who has held the position of President of the San Diego International Sports Council since 1996, returns to USD where he was Director of Athletic Development between 1990-1996. His official start date will be February 9, 2004, but he will be involved with USD matters during the transition.
"I'm especially proud to make the announcement of Ky Snyder as the Executive Director of Athletics and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs," said Dr. Mary E. Lyons, USD President. "We had a pool of highly qualified candidates and Mr. Snyder emerged with the attributes of talent, the passion and the leadership that I'm convinced will promote our athletic program to a place that is, in some people's point of view, very ambitious. He has a proven track record of fundraising and working in the community. And I, for one, think that we have a very talented, ambitious, competitive athlete who is also our executive director and will bring us to the next level."
As President of the San Diego International Sports Council, the 41-year-old Snyder's primary responsibility was to promote San Diego/Tijuana as the preferred region for sporting events and activities that benefit the community both economically and socially.
Recent accomplishments of the Sports Council bid efforts include securing for San Diego the 1997 and 1998 ESPN Summer X Games, the Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, the 1999 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, the inaugural Bank of America/U.S. Olympic Cup, NCAA Division I Men's Basketball First & Second Round (2001) contests, the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championships (2001) and Super Bowl XXXVII.
"I'm very excited about this opportunity and being able to come back to campus and working with everybody," stated Ky Snyder. "I look at this athletic program and I see a diamond in the rough. Very successful right now, but everyone on this campus that I have talked to, especially the coaches, believe that we can do more than we are doing. We are going to get our alumni, fans, coaching staff and athletes, and administrative staff alike to work together. There is a vision for Torero Athletics to be more than it is and I look forward to leading everyone towards that goal."
In the spring of 2001, Snyder was named the President of the San Diego Super Bowl Host Committee scheduled for January 26, 2003. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego NFL Youth Education Town, the San Diego Super Bowl Task Force, the SDSU Campanile Foundation Athletic Advisory Commission and the Curriculum Committee of SDSU's Hospitality and Tourism Management Program. He is a member of the San Diego Downtown Rotary Club on the military affairs committee and Thanksgiving Day program. Snyder is also the Executive Director of the San Diego International Sports Foundation.
Prior to joining the SDISC, Snyder was the Director of Athletic Development at the University of San Diego for six years. At USD he was responsible for establishing the Torero Athletic Association, fund-raising efforts for athletics, managing athletic special events and generating corporate sponsorship of athletics.
At USD he'll work closely with Jo-Ann Nester, Director of Athletics, in overseeing an athletic deparmtment with sixteen NCAA Division I intercollegiate teams and approximately 390 student-athletes. He'll be responsible for all administrative, management and supervisory aspects of the Department of Athletics. Additonally, he'll oversee the strategic long-range planning and monitoring of budgets, personnel, programs, facilities, fundraising, promotions and marketing, and public relations for an NCAA Division I program consisting of eight sports for men and eight sports for women.
Added USD Director of Athletics Jo-Ann Nester, "I think this will be an excellent scenario in that Ky brings a wealth of fundraising experience and I bring us the NCAA and Athletic Department organizational experience. This will be a very productive partnership. I think this departmental structure could be a prototype for Division I institutions of our size."
Snyder played football at San Diego State University and remains active in the Aztec Athletic Foundation. Snyder holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from San Diego State University and has studied in the Master's Leadership Program at the University of San Diego. He is a guest lecturer at the University of San Diego's MBA Sports Management program and the SDSU Hospitality Management program.
Snyder, who has been a San Diego resident for 20 years, has a very athletic family. His wife, Sue, was a former standout member of the United States women's national volleyball team who played at San Diego State and also coached the Aztecs and University of San Diego's volleyball teams. In addition, Snyder's father, Lester, held the position as President of the United States Tennis Association. The Snyder's reside in Poway with their son Riley (age 10), daughter Sydney (age 7) and daughter Cammy (age 4).
