Murray State University Athletics
General
- Title:
- Director of Athletics
| NICO YANTKOÂ - VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS | |
| Hometown | Dayton, Ohio |
| Alma Mater | Murray State (2009, 2010) |
| Wife | Marnie |
| Children | Chaney, Gino |
| CAREER EXPERIENCE | |
| Year | School, Position |
| 2022-Pres. | Murray State, Director of Athletics |
| 2017-22 | Louisiana, Deputy Athletic Director |
| 2011-17 | Missouri, Associate AD for Development (2015-17) Missouri, Assistant AD for Development (2013-15) Missouri, Director of Development (2011-13) |
| 2010-11 | NC State, Gift Officer |
| CAREER HONORS | |
| Year | Award |
| 2026 | Murray Citizen of the Year |
| 2026 | Silver Waves Media Top Athletic Directors in America |
| 2024 | MSUAA Top 22 Under 40 |
| 2022 | The Athletic 40 Under 40 |
Yantko is regarded as one of the most influential and innovative college executives in the nation and boasts more than a decade’s worth of extensive leadership experience in the SEC, Big 12, ACC, Sun Belt, and the Missouri Valley Conference.
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As a CEO-minded leader, Murray State Athletics has been transformed through Yantko's expertise in fundraising, commercial strategy, capital development, organizational transformation, deep commitment to student-athlete well-being and development, and championship culture.
In 2024, Yantko launched the $100 MILLION Leading the Pack campaign. In 2025-26, the department secured a UNIVERSITY RECORD $31 MILLION in commitments and received the university’s LARGEST-EVER GIFT of $10 MILLION.
Yantko has modernized operations with a progressive front office structure, introducing General Manager and President of Basketball Operations roles and expanding capabilities in roster management, revenue sharing, and analytics. The revenue-share system implemented by Yantko is powered by private support and outside NIL opportunities.
He has also driven major facility and fan engagement initiatives, including Racer Athletics Commercial Entertainment Real-Estate (RACER) Enterprises, which oversees Racer Entertainment Village—a mixed-use district featuring premium seating, retail, hospitality, and upgraded facilities to support long-term growth, as well as capital projects exceeding $50 MILLION.
These investments have fueled sustained championship-level performance with NCAA postseason success in basketball and a College World Series appearance in baseball, while also overseeing Murray State’s elevation to the Missouri Valley Conference and achieving the program’s top finish in SCHOOL HISTORY in the MVC All-Sports Trophy.
He was responsible for the launch of the Dennis Jackson Leadership Program, a comprehensive initiative focused on developing student-athletes beyond competition. The program has contributed to record-setting academic performance, including the highest GPAs and Graduation Success Rates (GSR) in SCHOOL HISTORY, while helping set the SCHOOL RECORD for community service engagement and financial literacy education to prepare student-athletes for long-term success.
Yantko’s vision focuses on building an innovative, competitive, and financially sustainable program that integrates elite performance, strong student-athlete support, and a dynamic fan experience.
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PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Prior to arriving at Murray State, Yantko established a national reputation as one of college athletics’ most innovative leaders in revenue generation, fundraising, brand strategy and organizational growth.
As Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Louisiana (2017–22), he led all external operations and revenue-generating units, transforming the Ragin’ Cajuns’ commercial strategy through record-setting fundraising, ticket sales, media partnerships and brand growth. During his tenure, Louisiana secured the LARGEST ATHLETICS GIFT IN UNIVERSITY HISTORY—a transformational $15 MILLION naming rights partnership for Cajun Field. He more than doubled football ticket revenue, increased ticket memberships by over 40 percent, surpassed $30 MILLION in annual philanthropic support, tripled digital engagement, negotiated the department’s first linear television agreement and helped build one of the nation’s premier external operations teams, recognized by NACMA and Learfield. As football sport administrator, Yantko hired head coach Billy Napier and helped guide the program to four consecutive championship seasons, 41 victories, multiple Sun Belt Championships and back-to-back seasons with national Top-25 rankings that included a final ranking of No. 15.
Before Louisiana, Yantko spent nearly seven years at the University of Missouri, culminating as Associate Athletic Director and Chief Development Officer. He played a key leadership role during Missouri’s transition into the Southeastern Conference while directing fundraising efforts that supported more than $250 MILLION in athletics capital projects. He led the two largest fundraising years in department history, closed a UNIVERSITY-RECORD 11 seven-figure gifts in a single fiscal year and contributed to transformative facility projects, including $200 MILLION in Memorial Stadium renovations.
Yantko began his career at North Carolina State University, where he worked as part of Bobby Purcell’s leadership team with the Wolfpack Club. He helped advance major capital initiatives, premium seating and donor engagement while contributing to the Wolfpack Club surpassing 20,000 members.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Yantko is a dual graduate of Murray State, earning a bachelor's degree in Business and Integrated Studies in 2009 and earned a master's degree in Human Development and Leadership, Public Administration in 2010.
He was a three-year football letter winner and starting quarterback for the Racers from 2007-09 and served as a member of the MSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, while briefly serving as a football staff assistant before embarking on his career in college athletics administration. Yantko served as a team captain and earned all-conference academic honors during his time as the Racers signal caller.
Yantko was inducted into the Fairborn High School (Dayton, Ohio) Athletics Hall of Fame in September of 2021.
Yantko lives in Murray with his wife, Marnie, their daughter, Chaney, their son, Gino, and their dog, Cannoli.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Mike Alden – Former University of Missouri Director of Athletics
"Nico Yantko embodies the core values, work ethic and leadership so important as the Director of Athletics. He is a rising star in college athletics. Congratulations to President Jackson and Murray State on a great hire."
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Dr. Joan Gabel – University of Pittsburgh President
"Nico is the perfect choice to lead Murray State Athletics to even greater success. He has character, vision, experience, and is a proud Racer. This is an ideal homecoming."
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Billy Napier – James Madison University Head Football Coach
"Congratulations to Nico Yantko for the leadership opportunity at Murray State. It's no surprise that he continues to advance in college athletics. He was a pivotal piece to our success in our four years at Louisiana. We will always be thankful for all that he did to help our team and staff. He and Marnie will represent his Alma Mater with class and integrity. The best is yet to come for the Racers!"
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Keith Gill – Sun Belt Conference Commissioner
"Murray State could not have made a better choice than Nico Yantko for their next director of athletics. Nico has been an instrumental part of the success of Louisiana Athletics and the Sun Belt Conference. As an alum and former football student-athlete, nobody loves Murray State more than Nico. He is a bright, engaging and innovative athletics administrator and the perfect person to lead Murray State to new heights."
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Austen Lane – Murray State Football (2006-09) – Murray State Hall of Famer & Teammate
"I was honored to have shared the field with Nico for three years at Murray State. In that time, he was the definition of a leader whose work ethic and passion embodied what it meant to be a Racer. He was a heck of a player on the field but more importantly an even better person off it and I'm proud to call him a friend. There's not a doubt in my mind he's going to shine in his new role at Murray State and I can't wait to watch him take Racer Athletics to new heights."
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Bobby Purcell – North Carolina State Athletics Special Assistant to the AD
"Nico Yantko is one of the brightest young administrators in college athletics today. He is smart and personable. He is a wonderful father, husband, and person. He will be a tremendous leader for Murray State and everyone will love him. Congrats on a great hire."
Dr. Bryan Maggard – University of Louisiana Director of Athletics
"Nico is both an exceptional person and professional. He has played a major role in our establishment of national relevance at the University of Louisiana the past five years. I am excited to watch Nico lead Murray State Athletics for years to come and wish him, Marnie and their family great success."
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