FDU Knights Athletics

Experience

Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics, FDU (NCAA Division I - NEC) - 2023-Present
Director of Athletics, FDU - 2019-2023
Deputy Director of Athletics, Sacred Heart (NCAA Division I - NEC) -  2013-2019
Senior Associate Commissioner, External Relations, West Coast Conference (NCAA Division I) - 2012-2013
Senior Associate Athletic Director, Operations, Northwestern (NCAA Division I - Big Ten) - 2009-2012
Associate Athletic Director, Intercollegiate Operations, Northwestern - 2004-2008
Associate Athletic Director, External Affairs, Northwestern - 2000-2004
Assistant Athletic Director, Media Services, Northwestern - 1995-2000
Director of Athletic Communications, Penn (NCAA Division I - Ivy League) - 1993-1995
Interim Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, Penn - 1992
Sports Information Assistant, George Washington (NCAA Division I - A-10) - 1992-1993
Public Relations and Membership Manager - Footwear Industries of America - 1989-1991
Policy Analyst - Meridian Corporation - 1984-1989
 

Personal

Bachelor of Arts - Managerial Economics, Marietta
Hurlbut's brother Steve previously served as the Director of Athletics at FDU from 1998-2002
 

Committee Work

NCAA Division I Council - 2023-Present
NCAA Division I Women's Golf Committee - 2020-Present, Current Chair
NCAA Division I Men's Golf Committee - 2015-2019, Chair 2016-2019
Tournament Manager, 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Second and Third Rounds (San Jose, Calif.)
Big Ten Conference Joint Group and Administrator's Council - 2004-2012
Big Ten Conference Sports Management Committee Co-Chair - 2007-2009
Division I-A Athletic Director's Institute - 2007
 

At FDU

• Named the seventh full-time Director of Athletics at FDU on February 18, 2019
• Appointed to the NCAA Division I Council as the NEC representative for a term beginning August 2023
• During his tenure, men's basketball has reached new heights, first earning the program's first-ever victory in the NCAA tournament in 2019 and shocking the world in 2023 with two victories, including against #1 Purdue
• 10 teams have won Northeast Conference championships through the 2022-23 academic year since Hurlbut arrived at FDU
• In 2022-23, the Knights finished in the top 100 of the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings, at No. 92, the highest ranking in program history and the first time an NEC member cracked the top 100
• Women's volleyball won the program's first-ever NEC title, earning the team's first trip to the NCAA tournament in 2022
• Executed a partnership with Return on Inclusion (ROI)... earned Certified Inclusive Leader status in September 2022
• Led a working group of alumni, University staff, student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators to development FDU's athletic values of Integrity, Pride, Resilience, Respect and Unity... The values are prominently featured around facilities and the Department's digital properties, including FDUKnights.com
• Negotiated FDU's first-ever all-sports apparel contract with Under Armour
• Secured an NCAA grant to help fund construction of the Student-Athlete Academic and Support Center
• Led FDU through the COVID-19 pandemic, including the adding of two varsity programs (men's volleyball and women's lacrosse)... FDU was the first Division I member to add multiple teams during the pandemic without subtracting
• Secured a $200,000 grant from the First Point Volleyball Foundation to aid in adding the first sport at FDU since 2006
• In 2019-20 FDU won the NEC Building Communities Award, given annually to the league member with the most student-athlete community service hours (3,200)
• Negotiated a long-term facility rental agreement with Capelli Sport for usage of University Stadium which secured the funding for a new Shaw artificial turf field and venue improvements for men's and women's soccer and women's lacrosse
• Oversaw the Department's first-ever athletics facility master plan with HOK
• Created a unified brand brand presence with the introduction of FDU's new logo package and indoor court design
• Women's basketball, baseball, softball and women's volleyball have seen tremendous progress in his tenure with each of the programs setting new records and earning NEC tournament berths... Women's basketball advanced to the WNIT in back-to-back seasons (2022, 2023), the first postseason bids in progam history... FDU women's basketball won the NEC regular season title in those seasons and hosted the NEC title game in 2023
• Elevated to Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics on July 1, 2023
• Hired eight of the Knights' 15 current head coaches
• Serves as chair of the NEC Athletic Directors' Committee, member of the NEC Strategic Planning & Membership Committee and is the current administrative liaison to the men's basketball coaches

Sacred Heart Highlights

• Directed daily operations of all areas of the athletic department and its 32 programs
• Served as program administrator for men's and women's basketball, football and men's lacrosse
• Represented Sacred Heart at all NCAA and NEC functions
• Negotiated a 10-year multi-million dollar all-sports apparel and hard goods agreement with adidas
• Established positions of Director of Strength and Conditioning, Director of Compliance, Director of Athletic Sponsorship and Fan Engagement and Manager of Ticket Operations
• Sacred Heart became the first NEC school to win the Commissioner's Cup and Institutional Academic Award in the same year
• The Pioneers reached new heights with two NEC Commissioner's Cups, three Women's Cups and three Building Communities Awards
• Oversaw the transition to a new medical services provider for the Department, along with the addition of two more athletic trainers
• Served as liaison to various University officers

WCC Highlights

• Led the development and implementation of the strategic vision for men's basketball
• Responsible for the development and launch of W.TV, the WCC's digital network
• Supervised the day-to-day operations of the external relations staff (championships, communications, new media, marketing)
• Served as tournament manager for the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship rounds in San Jose
• Directed and supervised the scheduling process for men's and women's basketball conference games
• Managed relationships with television and digital media partners
• Oversaw WCC television agreements

Northwestern Highlights

• Served the Wildcats for 17 years, beginning as the Assistant Athletic Director, Media Services
• Duties during his tenure included major capital projects, sport management, strategic planning, event management, alumni relations and facility master planning
• Developed NU's Athletic Crisis Management Plan
• Served on the University's and Department's strategic planning committees, University's campus planning committee and President's inauguration committee
• Played a key role in the development of the department's gender-equity plan, NCAA certification process and NU's program review
• Led Facility Master Plan for the Department of Athletics and Recreation
• Oversaw the athletic facilities office and liaised with University facilities management on capital projects, including the design and construction of the athletic administration building, basketball practice facility and soccer/lacrosse complex
• Extensive involvement in the search process of all head coaches hired during his years in Evanston... served as lead on five searches
• Day-to-day supervision of the men's and women's basketball, field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball and men's wrestling teams
  • Men's Golf - four-time Big Ten champions (1999 - NCAA third place)
  • Women's Tennis (eight-time NCAA top 10)
  • Men's Wrestling (NCAA fourth place 2007)
• Managed numerous NCAA and Big Ten championships, including football bowl game preparations
• Supervised the management of the recreational/club sports program and associated facilities
• Served as liaison to NU's alumni relations, government relations, university relations and the Big Ten Network
• Executed approval of game contracts for intercollegiate competition and worked with the Office of the General Counsel on approval of external-related contracts
• Chaired the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and revamped the selection process
• Supervised game/event management and community relations... worked closely with the mayor, alderman and city manager
• Managed marketing/promotions and media services departments... oversaw all facets of external relations and game operations
• Worked alongside corporate partners, radio, website services and merchandise partners
• Partnered with alumni relations to host hospitality events prior to all home and away football games
• Served as department spokesperson and organized all athletic press conferences
• Managed publicity for the football program, including the team's 1996 Rose Bowl appearance and 1997 Citrus Bowl berth... co-produced weekly football television show
• Served on Evanston's Convention and Visitor's Bureau
• Managed the implementation of the athletic department's first website