BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart announced several staff additions and role adjustments to the WKU Athletics staff on Wednesday.
Rob Peterson has been elevated to Deputy Athletic Director (Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer), marking the first Deputy Athletic Director the department has seen under Stewart.
"Rob Peterson's knowledge derived from his multi-faceted career experiences and responsibilities coupled with his budgetary vision and decisiveness has been a tremendous asset to WKU Athletics since he joined us in the fall of 2023," Stewart said. "His elevation to the Deputy Athletic Director role coupled with these additional moves modernizes our departmental structure and will result in increased efficiencies as we continually adapt to the changing landscape of collegiate athletics."
As the Chief Operating Officer, Peterson will assist Stewart with the day-to-day operations of the department and provide leadership support of the compliance, communications, facilities, events/capital projects, Hilltopper Athletic Foundation, marketing, sports medicine, and ticket operations units by working closely with the senior associates responsible for those units. Peterson continues his leadership of all department financial matters including the business office and all department contracts and will serve as the as the primary liaison to Hilltopper Sports Properties and the WKU Budget Executive Committee.
Chandler DeRieux has been hired as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance & Academic Affairs. DeRieux is tasked with leading WKU's compliance department. He comes to The Hill from UAB, where he had worked as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. He joined the UAB staff in November 2023.
Robert Frank comes to WKU as the Assistant Athletic Director for Business Operations. Frank is responsible for monitoring and communicating budget analytics with unit and sport leadership, as well as formulating budget recommendations for department leadership. Frank comes to The Hill with an extensive executive level experience in the corporate environment including stints with Rawlings Sporting Goods, Lee Apparel Group and Bible League International.
Jared MacDonald has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications & Media Relations. MacDonald will oversee all aspects of the Athletic Communications/Media Relations and Creative departments. MacDonald had worked as the Director of Athletic Communications & Media Relations since August 2023, after nearly a decade of experience working in the media, primarily in the newspaper industry.
Audrey Ann Laster has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing & Fan Experience. Laster will oversee WKU's athletic marketing and fan experience operations. Laster previously served as the WKU Athletics Director of Marketing, after originally joining the WKU staff in January 2024 as the Assistant Director of Marketing.
Giana Pellizzon has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development & Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Pellizzon initially joined the Hilltoppers in October 2024. In her role, she will lead initiatives in community engagement, career readiness, leadership development – including SAAC and the Leadership Academy – and supports NIL education and opportunities for all WKU student-athletes.
Additional staff changes include: Lillie-Anne Mulligan has been promoted to Director of Athletic Communications & Media Relations and Jack Todd has been promoted to Associate Director of Athletic Communications & Media Relations. Tara Hornal has been promoted to Senior Coordinator of Business Operations. Jason Southall has been hired as the Assistant Director of Marketing & Fan Experience. Nick Uhlenhopp rejoins the Hilltoppers as the Director of Revenue Share/Operations Analyst having previously served WKU as the Director of Football Operations and as the Executive Director of the Red Towel Trust.
For the full WKU Athletics staff directory, as well as employee biographies, click HERE.
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