CarrSports Consulting names veteran athletics director as vice president and chief operating officer

CarrSports Consulting, LLC (CarrSports) has named Mike Thomas vice president and chief operating officer.

Bill Carr, CarrSports founder and president, announced the appointment today. “We are extremely pleased to have Mike Thomas join us in this key leadership position focusing on our firm’s internal operations and business development,” said Carr. “He brings outstanding experience, knowledge and achievement in every aspect of college athletics current trends, issues and challenges.

“Mike is well-known and respected across the entire nation. Further, Mike has already displayed his capability by assisting in executive search with us, and we have collaborated with him in strategic planning. We expect great things from Mike and look forward to the impact of his significant productivity.”

Thomas brings 35 years of experience in collegiate athletics, including 17 years as the Director of Athletics at four NCAA Division I schools, where he has hired coaches who then led teams to conference championships and national prominence, achieved historic levels of fundraising, managed capital projects totaling nearly $400 million, raised student-athlete academic achievements to conference-leading levels, instituted cultures of strict NCAA compliance, negotiated multi-million dollar media sponsorship and marketing contracts, and revamped staffing and financial systems. He also has served in leadership positions at both the conference and NCAA level, most recently on the NCAA D1 Council.

As an AD, Thomas has served at the University of Akron, University of Cincinnati, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Cleveland State University. He also served in various athletics administration roles at the University of Virginia, University of Denver and the University of Iowa.

Over the past two decades, the name CarrSports Consulting has become synonymous with integrity, effectiveness and excellence. I am honored to be affiliated with Bill Carr, Gerald O’Dell and all team members at CarrSports Consulting.”

Thomas began his new role on June 5, 2019.

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CarrSports Consulting is the true pioneer in presenting executive search and management consulting services to intercollegiate athletics. CarrSports is well-respected and known for integrity, expertise and creativity. Our unique record of excellence includes the successful completion of over 120 leadership searches and more than 50 intensely-focused management consulting projects conducted from coast to coast, providing our clients with outstanding service and best options for meaningful solutions.