University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Director of Athletics, Sport Administrator: Football, Softball, Baseball
- Email:
- Phone:
- 970.351.2362
Darren Dunn was named the University of Northern Colorado’s Director of Athletics on November 4, 2013 and officially began his tenure in January 2014. Since his arrival, Dunn has led UNC Athletics through a decade of measurable growth by strengthening organizational structure, elevating the student-athlete experience, and delivering sustained competitive and academic success while building a culture anchored in integrity, accountability, passion, excellence, and inclusivity.
Under Dunn’s leadership, UNC Athletics has achieved significant competitive milestones, including 30 Big Sky Conference team championships (regular season and tournament combined) and 13 NCAA Championship appearances. UNC has also increased its national profile, highlighted by major progress in the NACDA Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, improving from a finish of No. 292 in 2014-15 to a program-best No. 130 in 2023-24, reflecting broad-based excellence across sports.
Dunn has driven long-term academic achievement and a holistic student-athlete experience. UNC Athletics has maintained a department-wide GPA of 3.00 or better throughout his tenure, and in 2024-25 the department produced a 93% Graduation Success Rate, the highest in school history. Dunn also launched the Champions for Life Academy (C4LA), a comprehensive development program designed to prepare student-athletes for life after college through consistent, practical programming that supports career readiness, financial literacy, wellness, and leadership development, reinforcing the department’s vision of building champions for life through a dynamic student-athlete experience.
Dunn has also been instrumental in strengthening external revenue generation and community engagement. Since his arrival, sponsor revenue has increased more than 300%, supported by improved sales systems, inventory and pricing strategy, stronger renewal practices, and an emphasis on local partnership-building. He has prioritized donor engagement and sport-specific fundraising growth, working to expand resources across all programs and enhance immediate student-athlete support.
Dunn has overseen transformational upgrades to UNC’s athletic facilities and student-athlete resources throughout his tenure. In 2015, he helped install the first video boards in program history at both Nottingham Field and Bank of Colorado Arena, followed by leading fundraising efforts for the renovation of Gloria Rodriguez Field in 2016. Facility progress continued with the renovation and dedication of the Bob Heiny Student-Athlete Academic Success Center in 2018, and a major leap forward in 2021 with the groundbreaking of the Empower Center, which tripled available strength and conditioning space, along with the conversion of Nottingham Field from natural grass to modern turf. In addition, Dunn has helped guide privately supported enhancements across multiple venues and operational spaces, including an upgraded arena athletic training room and rehabilitation center, a new team film and media room, an expanded Empower Center, and a revamped Hall of Fame space. Collectively, these privately funded projects have significantly elevated performance support, storytelling capabilities, and the overall student-athlete experience.
Dunn came to Northern Colorado from the University of Houston, where he served as the Deputy Athletics Director from October, 2009 until December, 2013. In his role, he oversaw athletic communications, development, marketing and promotions, licensing, video and the ticket office while assisting in all facets of administration.
While at UH, Cougar Pride, the athletic department's development arm, set a record with a total of $3.8 million in fundraising during the 2012-13 season. He also assisted in the planning and fundraising for a new $20 million basketball practice facility, a new $120 million football stadium and increased football season ticket holders by 260% -- from 5,500 to over 13,000. Overall department revenue increased over 50% during his tenure.
Prior to Houston, Dunn spent 11 years working with the University of New Mexico, eight-and-a-half in the department of athletics and more than two years as the General Manager of Lobo Sports Properties/Learfield Sports (LSP). In his role as General Manager, Dunn directed and managed all aspects of the New Mexico athletics department's multimedia rights, including all sponsorship sales for athletics facilities, Lobo Radio Network, TV game broadcasts and special events.
With the Lobos, Dunn was the associate athletics director from December 1998 until February 2007, when he moved to LSP. As Associate AD, Dunn directed and managed the marketing and promotions department and the corporate sponsorship program, while coordinating all external affairs for the Lobo Athletics Department. Dunn also supervised the baseball and softball programs, expanded the community relations program, and chaired the Senior Management Advisory Committee to research new revenue streams and review/reduce departmental expenses.
Dunn negotiated New Mexico's multimedia rights agreement for over $60 million, and he also increased the UNM Lobo Sponsorship Program over 175% in cash commitments. He managed the University's Licensing Program, increasing its revenue over 200%, while working closely with the Lobo Store merchandise sales and increased the rights' fee 100%.
Before New Mexico, Dunn was the Director of Marketing & Promotions at the University of Tulsa. As TU's Director of Marketing, Dunn developed and implemented a complete marketing plan for football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball including production and placement of radio, television and print advertising, game promotions, pre-game and halftime activities and student participation.
He increased the Athletics Department's Corporate Partnership program over 100% in two years and secured over $450,000 in new gift-in-kind print, radio and television advertising inventory. Dunn also increased football season ticket sales by 25% after seven consecutive losing seasons.
Dunn also spent three years as Director of Athletic Sales at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., where he coordinated the corporate sponsorship program, which included a strategic plan for research and solicitation of current and prospective sponsors. He began his athletics career at UNM in Sept. 1991, where he served a year-and-a-half as Marketing Assistant.
A four-year baseball letterman at the University of Denver, Dunn graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science/business administration in 1991 and was named DU’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year. He later earned his master’s degree in sports administration from the University of New Mexico in 1992.
A native of San Diego, Calif., Dunn was named "Top 40 Under 40" in New Mexico in 2007 by New Mexico Business Weekly. He was also the 1997 Tulsa Rotary Club Professional of the Year, and was a Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 1992. He is married to Leslie Dunn and the father of three children: Allison and twins Ava and Andrew, and stepchildren Ryan and Rachel Lautzenhiser.
