DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca has announced Aggie Athlete Alumna Dr. Heather Hunter as the new Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator of Aggie athletics.
"After an extensive search, we are thrilled to welcome Heather Hunter back home to Aggie Athletics," DeLuca said. "With over 25 years of experience in athletics and higher education, including successful stints with GMR Marketing and Sharks Sports & Entertainment, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. We are fortunate to add her to our leadership team and I'm confident she will make significant contributions to UC Davis Athletics in support of our coaches and student-athletes."
Dr. Heather Hunter, a Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Famer and former Aggie coach, brings an enormous amount of experience and expertise into her new position. She has over 25 years' experience in athletics and higher education and is currently leading the university-wide collaborative corporate partnership initiative for UC Davis. Hunter is responsible for establishing and executing a comprehensive campus-wide strategy for securing business partnerships that align with the UC Davis' Principles of Community and mission. In 2015, Hunter joined UC Davis as the Associate Executive Director and Chief Revenue Officer for the Cal Aggie Alumni Association overseeing business partnerships, membership, wine, and travel programs.
"I want to thank Director of Athletics, Rocko DeLuca, for the opportunity to return to the department where I competed as a student-athlete," Hunter said. "UC Davis Athletics is my unwavering passion, and I am excited to serve our student-athletes, coaches and staff."
Prior to UC Davis, Hunter served as the Account Director for GMR Marketing where she led the $25 million North America and Latin America sports sponsorship portfolio for global SAP. SAP's sponsorships included the NFL, NBA, San Francisco 49ers/Levi's Stadium, San Jose Sharks/SAP Center, MetLife Stadium, Madison Square Garden, golf, tennis, sailing, Cirque de Soleil and Tribeca Film Festival. She also managed NetApp's NFL business and worked on special projects for Global Sports & Entertainment Consulting.
Before GMR, Hunter worked for Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE) for over 11 years, leading the sponsorship service team who was responsible for managing over 100 corporate partners across the SSE portfolio. The SSE property portfolio included the San Jose Sharks (NHL), HP Pavilion, SAP Open (ATP), San Jose Stealth (NLL), San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), PGA Tour Champions, Fight Night at the Tank (Boxing) and Sharks Ice (Practice Facility). She also led the naming rights partnerships for HP and SAP and was a member of the board of directors for the Sharks Foundation.
Hunter began her career on University of California campuses. She was a Marketing Coordinator for Cal Athletics, where she developed and implemented comprehensive marketing programs for the Golden Bears and managed 15 corporate sponsor accounts including Bank of the West, Toyota and Ford. Prior to Cal, Hunter was an assistant softball coach for two seasons at UC Davis managing the recruiting program. The team reached post-season in both years and participated in the College World Series, finishing 3rd in the country.
Hunter is a graduate of UC Davis, where she double majored in American Studies and Psychology. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco and her Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from the University of the Pacific. Hunter was a four-year letter winner in softball at UC Davis and is a member of the Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame. She is currently serving on the University Credit Union Advisory Council and served on the UC Davis Athletics Board from 2017-2022.
What others are saying:
"I've known Heather for more than a decade, in three different roles. She is dedicated and diligent; a natural leader who thrives in complex environments. Long before experiences became mainstream, Heather was on the forefront of going beyond operational excellence in events to delivering memorable experiences based on individual preferences. Heather will thrive in her new role at UC Davis." – Jonathan Becher, President, Sharks Sports & Entertainment
"Heather is a tremendous leader and gets it done. She delivers results and I'm thrilled for UC Davis and this hire." - Gloria Nevarez, Commissioner, Mountain West Conference
"Heather brings a unique set of experiences to her new position of Senior Woman Administrator and Senior Associate Athletic Director. She was a very successful student athlete, worked in professional sports as well as NCAA Division I Pac 12 sports administration. All those experiences and her understanding of the importance of 'student' in student-athlete, provides her with all of the tools to be successful as UC Davis moves forward." – Pam Gill-Fisher, Former Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator, UC Davis Athletics
