FSU football: Positives of hiring Michael Alford as FSU Athletic Director

From Seminoles.com

"Under Alford’s leadership, the Seminole Boosters have increased the annual fund and membership numbers, completed a successful $100 million capital campaign that includes funding for a new Football Operations Building, initiated a redevelopment plan of Doak Campbell Stadium, and entered a new contract with Legends, the premium experiences company, to operate the Dunlap Champions Club. Prior to his arrival at Florida State, Alford served as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at Central Michigan University from 2017-2020. He is credited with leading Central Michigan during the most successful fundraising period in its athletics history. Notably, Alford hired eight coaches at Central Michigan, four of whom went on to win conference coach of the year honors in their first two seasons. Alford also guided the renegotiation of CMU Athletics’ apparel contract which resulted in a 600 percent increase in revenue, spearheaded an all-time high in Chippewa Athletic Fund memberships and oversaw the department’s all-time fundraising record in 2018-2019 that eclipsed the mark set in 2017-2018 by 50 percent. From 2012 to 2017, Alford was the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Administration at the University of Oklahoma where he oversaw the Sooner Club, the principal fund-raising arm of OU Athletics. The Sooner Club set annual giving records and increased membership to an all-time high under his leadership. He also played an integral role in the $160 million capital campaign for the renovation of the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and the university’s football facility. In addition, Alford oversaw the men’s basketball program, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2016. Alford served as senior director of corporate partnerships and sales for the Dallas Cowboys from 2008-2012 and as general manager of Crimson Tide Sports Marketing from 2004-2008."

That’s a great deal of experience across several different collegiate settings and in different markets. I believe that experience will prove valuable in getting things done in Tallahassee.

One of the most important is to create fundraising opportunities, as FSU looks to create new ways to generate revenue in a league that’s failing to compete with schools in the SEC and Big 10.

Alford has experience hiring coaches that have excelled and embrace the importance of funding for athletic programs. The latter is something FSU has been missing for over a decade.