Richard Kilwien was named Associate Director of Athletics for Strategic Communications and Management at UC San Diego in July of 2018, was elevated later that year to Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations and currently serves the department as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director.
During his time at UC San Diego, Kilwien has provided leadership and oversight to a number of areas of the UC San Diego athletics program, including branding & licensing, communications, corporate partnerships, creative content, facilities and event operations, fan engagement, marketing, ticket sales and operations and video production. He serves as a member of the department's executive leadership and, with dual reporting to athletics and the campus Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, is heavily involved on an institutional level as a member of University Communications' leadership team.
With more than 35 years of professional experience in collegiate athletics, Kilwien joined the UC San Diego Athletics staff following a stint as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Communications at the University of Texas at Arlington. He spent the previous 16 years on the West Coast in senior communications and external affairs positions at Santa Clara University, the University of Washington and Saint Mary’s College.
As a member of the senior leadership team at UT Arlington, Kilwien was responsible for directing communications efforts for the Mavericks’ 15-sport athletics program. He directed the formation of the department’s live ESPN3 production for volleyball and basketball and implemented a number of initiatives designed to streamline the long-term efficiency of the communications unit.
Kilwien previously served the Saint Mary's Athletics Department as Assistant Athletics Director for Communications and, in the fall of 2011, was elevated to the position of Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs.
While at Saint Mary’s, Kilwien supervised the department's areas of marketing, promotions, ticket sales and operations, student spirit groups, video operations, and communications. He was directly responsible for managing the department's communications unit and implementing a media and public relations strategy for SMC athletics. Kilwien also oversaw the development of the school's official athletic website and social media and video initiatives, served as the department's primary spokesperson, and was the media relations contact for the Gaels' men's basketball, men's soccer, and men's golf programs.
From 2006-2010 Kilwien served as Associate Director of Athletics for Communications at the University of Washington. While in Seattle, he oversaw the department's media relations, graphics design, and internet services areas and developed several initiatives to streamline efficiencies. Kilwien was invited to participate in a panel discussion at the 2010 College Sports Video Summit in Atlanta, Ga., and served on a senior advisory council for the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Prior to Washington, Kilwien spent six years at Santa Clara University and spearheaded the formation of the external services area to tie all media relations and marketing functions into one unit and reorganized all corporate sales efforts. He also expanded the department's official athletic website and publishing agreements, implemented live web event coverage of several sports, and expanded the department's merchandise sales program. In addition, the department successfully rebranded and expanded its kids club and student spirit organization. In March of 2002, Kilwien served as the tournament manager for the NCAA Men's Basketball West Regional hosted by Santa Clara University at the Compaq Center at San Jose.
Kilwien arrived at Santa Clara in August, 2000, following a stint at the FANSonly Network (now CBS Interactive) in Carlsbad, Calif., then the largest college sports network of official athletic websites. While at FANSonly, Kilwien was responsible for assisting with the management of the company's public relations, business development, and marketing efforts as well as working closely with the university development staffs to develop web marketing strategies for athletic departments.
Prior to FANSonly, Kilwien served as Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations at his alma mater, Texas Tech. While a member of the Red Raider staff, he conducted a successful campaign to promote Byron Hanspard for the Dr Pepper Doak Walker Award and a sixth-place finish in the voting for the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Kilwien also was responsible for serving as a liaison with the department's marketing group and was the primary spokesperson during a comprehensive NCAA investigation. He also was instrumental in launching the department's first website in August, 1996. Kilwien served as media coordinator for several NCAA baseball and women's basketball regional events and designed the media operations areas in the $62 million United Spirit Arena.
Following his graduation from Texas Tech in 1988, Kilwien began his career in college athletics as an intern and media relations assistant under CoSIDA Hall of Famer Ted Nance at the University of Houston. While at Houston, Kilwien worked closely with Olympic track and field gold medalists and world-record holders Carl Lewis, Joe DeLoach, and Leroy Burrell. He was also involved with the successful promotion of Andre Ware for the Heisman Trophy and handled the media relations duties for 11 of Houston's 17 sports.
From 1990-92, Kilwien served as an assistant director of sports information at Duke University, where he was involved with the promotion and media relations duties surrounding the back-to-back national champion men's basketball team. He also spent two years as an assistant director of media relations for the Southwest Conference and another two as Director of Media Relations and Promotions at Raycom Sports, where he was responsible for media operations for the Carquest Bowl, the Diet Pepsi Tournament of Champions, and the LPGA's Fieldcrest Cannon Classic.
