By Joey Jones. BOONE, N.C. — App State has hired longtime Southeastern Conference senior-level fundraiser Mike Richey as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced Tuesday.
Richey, who holds a master’s degree from App State, returns to Boone after spending the last 24 years in various roles within Mississippi State’s athletic department.
“We are excited to welcome Mike and his family back to Boone,” Gillin said. “Mike’s experience raising resources in college athletics will be a great asset for our team in our efforts to achieve comprehensive excellence across all areas of App State Athletics.”
At Mississippi State, Richey most recently served as Executive Director of Principal Giving. In that role, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Bulldog Club and the MSU Athletic Ticket Office, while also serving as the sport administrator for the Bulldogs’ softball program.
“We are so excited to return to the High Country,” Richey said. “Appalachian State is a very special place, and I am thrilled to be able to come back and connect with our loyal alums and friends who do so much to make the university great. I am grateful to Doug Gillin and his team for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to getting back to Boone.”
Richey oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Bulldog Club’s annual fund drive and scholarship seating program from 2006-24, growing in title from Associate AD to Senior Associate AD to Executive Senior Associate AD to Executive Director.
He joined Mississippi State as an Assistant AD for Special Projects and Marketing in 2000.
Richey’s early years in college athletics included stints at Oklahoma State as an athletic development coordinator from 1995-97 and at James Madison as Director of Annual Giving for the JMU Duke Club from 1997-99 and Director of the Madison Fund, the university’s annual giving program, from 1999-2000.
The Sterling, Va., native has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UNC Charlotte (’92) and a master’s degree in physical education (sport management concentration) from App State (’95). He and his wife, Katy, have three sons – Bryan, Calvin and AJ – and one daughter – Anna.
