Cincinnati Officially Names Mike Bohn New Athletic Director
By Chris Bains
Dec 29, 2012; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes athletic director Mike Bohn before the game against the Hartford Hawks at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The University of Cincinnati held a press conference at 5 pm today to introduce former Colorado AD Mike Bohn as the school’s new athletic director. You can watch the presser live here but if not here is the official release from Cincinnati.
"CINCINNATI – President Santa J. Ono has named Mike Bohn as the new director of athletics at the University of Cincinnati. Bohn’s career spans thirty years and includes record-setting achievements at multiple institutions. As director of athletics at the University of Colorado from 2005 to 2013, Bohn successfully led their transition to the Pac-12 Conference. CU won four conference championship titles within two years, including the first for men’s basketball in over 43 years. Meanwhile, Bohn enhanced academic support for scholar-athletes, resulting in departmental highs for APR and GPA. He oversaw several multi-million dollar capital projects and facility upgrades, as well as secured the largest corporate sponsorship in school history. In 2008, CU garnered national attention for launching the first zero-waste stadium initiative at the college or professional level. In 2013, CU was named the most economically efficient athletics department in the nation by the Laboratory for the Study of Intercollegiate Athletics at Texas A&M. Prior to the University of Colorado, Bohn served as director of athletics at San Diego State University. Under his watch, SDSU football increased season ticket sales by 27% and game-day attendance by 59%, in addition to setting a SDSU single-game attendance record of 57,000 against Idaho State. The SDSU baseball team set a NCAA single-game attendance record of 40,000. As director of athletics at the University of Idaho from 1999 to 2003, Bohn successfully led their transition to the Division I-A ranks from the Big Sky Conference. Under Bohn, UI began construction on the Vandal Athletics Center, the first athletic facilities improvement in two decades. Additionally, he spearheaded a 20% increase in the Vandal Scholarship Fund and a $350,000 surge in annual corporate support. Bohn spent three years at Colorado State University as associate director of athletics. At CSU, he was responsible for all external revenue-producing operations, including: ticket sales; fundraising through the Greater Ram Club; licensing; corporate sales; signage; capital campaigns; broadcasting rights fees; and special events. Prior to CSU, Bohn served as Director of Marketing for the College Football Association. The CFA, the precursor to the current Bowl Championship Series, consisted of six major football conferences encompassing 67 universities. Bohn assisted with the CFA’s administration of a $67 million television package involving ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. Bohn began his athletic administrative career at the Air Force Academy, where he played a major role in increasing football season ticket sales from 6,000 to 20,000 and in implementing a fundraising campaign that generated $16 million for stadium improvements. Bohn received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, where he was recruited as a quarterback and also played baseball, and a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University. He is married to the former Kim Zeren, and they have a son, Brandon, and a daughter, Michaelyn Tynan, along with a son-in-law, John Tynan, and a grandson, Chase Tynan. “To recruit a leader of Mike’s caliber and national standing only reaffirms the strength, promise and pride of UC Athletics. Mike has successfully moved multiple high profile programs to greater heights, and I am confident that he will help us do the same,” Ono said. “I invite all of you to join me in welcoming Mike and his family to the Bearcat family.” Ono added, “I want to extend my admiration and appreciation to Desiree Reed-Francois for her leadership during this transition. I also want to thank our coaches, staff, scholar-athletes, fans and campus community for their encouragement and support. The future of UC Athletics is very bright.” In Bohn’s words, “We are beyond excited to join the UC community—with its rich history and remarkable momentum. I am eager to partner with a highly energized President who understands the collaborative role that athletics can play in advancing the University’s vision and values. Go Bearcats!” Bohn and his family will be introduced to the Bearcat Nation at the men’s basketball game against UConn."