2008 Special Guest

Mark Hollis - Athletic Director, Michigan State University

Mark Hollis will bring more than 20 years of athletics administration experience, either at the school or conference level, to his new position as Athletic Director. His well-rounded background has led to his knowledge of all areas within an athletics department, including marketing, financial administration, television negotiations, fund-raising, game operations, facility management, personnel policy, corporate interaction, sports management and public relations.

A 1985 Michigan State graduate, Hollis returned to his alma mater in 1995. Since then, he has been a critical component of the athletic department executive management staff, helping guide the department through short- and long-range plans. Most recently, he played a lead role in Mark Dantonio's hiring as football coach and provided major assistance with the process to hire new women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant. He oversees all external relations for the MSU athletics department. Included in this group are marketing and promotions, community relations, special-event fund-raising, sports information, ticket operations, spirit groups, broadcast services and corporate sponsorships. He also has sports management supervision of the men's basketball program, while also supervising the cheerleading, dance team and band programs.
Hollis has been recognized by his peers as one of the best in the business. In 2002, he was named recipient of the National Marketer of the Year Award as selected by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA). Under his direction, Michigan State has enjoyed increases in ticket revenues, including five years of sold-out football seasons and nearly 150 consecutive sellouts in men's basketball. He was successful in negotiating a $2 million donation to the University for the construction of the Berkowitz Basketball Complex, providing both the men's and women's basketball programs with one the nation's top office complexes.

Prior to returning to Michigan State, Hollis spent two years at the University of Pittsburgh as assistant and associate athletic director. While at Pitt, he directed the operations for external affairs, game management and facilities, while also managing the day-to-day operations and budget of the football and men's basketball programs. In just two years, he developed the department's facility master plan, including a $7 million renovation of Pitt Stadium, and initiated the first corporate sponsor program.

Before his stint at Pitt, Hollis worked for the Western Athletic Conference. He joined the WAC as an administrative assistant immediately after college. Two years later, he was appointed assistant to the commissioner and soon thereafter was promoted to assistant commissioner. As assistant commissioner, Hollis was responsible for all aspects of the budget, financial management, corporate sponsorships, promotions, personnel policies, conference tournaments, basketball officiating and general administrative duties. He coordinated relationships with postseason bowl games and television entities, resulting in significant increases in bowl appearances by conference teams.

Hollis earned his bachelor of arts degree in communication from Michigan State in 1985, where he served as a basketball team manager under Jud Heathcote. In 1992, he earned his MBA in business administration from the University of Colorado.
He and his wife Nancy, have a daughter, Katy, and two sons, T.R. and Michael.