Eric Mathews (aka Captain Fun) joined Western Kentucky University in September 2026 and currently serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Experience. He oversees marketing efforts for the department both regionally and nationally, while managing a staff consisting of seasoned professionals and students entering the business of collegiate athletic marketing. While being the marketing contact for football and assisting with all sports at WKU.
Before arriving on The Hill, Mathews spent nearly nine years at the University of Hawai‘i first in the athletic communications office for five years, and later becoming the director of marketing over a four stretch. During his time on O‘ahu Mathews became a five-time national award winner through CoSIDA (1) and NACMA (4). As the marketing director at UH in 2025, Mathews led the charge in a partnership with Athletics Admin to create the first-ever fan driven, create a uniform contest in collegiate athletics, and worn by Rainbow Wahine basketball. The contest brought in national attention in collaboration with UniSwag on social media, collecting over 250 submissions including entries from over 20 states, and 10 different countries. The project partnered with other creative designs over a two-year period including men’s basketball and men’s volleyball. All creative game worn jerseys were sold nationally via website auction accumulating nearly $200k in revenue between the three programs, while providing fans the opportunity to own a piece of UH history.
Mathews is a 2011 graduate of WKU with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Radio/ TV Operations and a minor in sales. He’s also a 2017 graduate of Morehead State University with a master’s degree in Sports Management. While at UH, Mathews spent two years in the Computer Information Science doctorate program, researching the impact of social media activity on ticket sales.
Since graduating from WKU, Mathews spent time working at or with every level of collegiate athletics including NAIA (University of the Cumberlands and Georgetown College), NCAA Division III (Transylvania University and Berea College), Division II (Kentucky State University), and Division I (University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University, Wright State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, University of Kentucky, and University of Hawai‘i).
Prior to entering the business of collegiate athletics Mathews worked as professional broadcaster, producer, director, and sales associate for Forever Communications, LM Communications, IMG, and the SEC Network.
Mathews resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky. While he’s avid fan of Hilltopper basketball and Rainbow Warrior football, he’s die-hard fan of both the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals.
