Athletics Announces Staff Additions, Promotion

BOULDER ? Will Simpson and Clayton Hamilton have joined the University of Colorado athletic department, as the pair fills two vacancies in key departmental positions, CU athletic director Mike Bohn announced Thursday.

Simpson becomes the school’s 11th director of ticket operations, while Hamilton is just the fifth person to hold the title of business manager; all four previous to serve as the business manager also held the dual title of ticket manager at one time or another, until the dual roles were permanently split in 1987.

Simpson replaces Ruph Gebre-Mariam, who accepted another position on campus last winter, while Hamilton replaces Jon Burianek, who left the university last summer after serving as the school’s business manager since 1979.

“We welcome two outstanding seasoned professionals that bring a level of passion, experience and vision that will deliver immediate results and enhance our commitment to customer service,” Bohn said.

Simpson joins the Colorado staff from Southern Methodist University, where he most recently served as the assistant athletic director for ticket operations. Prior to being promoted to an assistant AD in 2005, he spent four years as the Mustangs’ ticket manager, after beginning his career at SMU in 1999 as an intern before being hired the following year as the assistant ticket manager.

He managed all aspects of ticket-related operations for SMU, and also has experience doing the same for NCAA and conference championships; his duties are similar at Colorado. He is skilled in the Paciolan Ticketing System, utilized at both SMU and CU.

Simpson graduated from Texas A & M in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He lettered as a fullback under coach R.C. Slocum and was a member of Aggie teams that visited CU in 1995 and 1998.

Hamilton comes to CU after five-plus years at Florida State, first as assistant business manager for just over two years, and the last three as business manager, including the last year as an assistant athletic director. At FSU, his responsibilities included oversight of all business operations, accounting and information technology.

At Colorado, his duties will include oversight of department financial, accounting, ITS, procurement, travel, inventory and human resource operations, monitor the financial position of the department on a regular and on-going basis and prepare periodic budget reports, and continuously review athletic department internal controls to protect university assets and ensure compliance with all state, university and NCAA rules and requirements.

A 1994 graduate of the University of Arkansas (bachelor’s in business administration), Hamilton received his master’s in sports administration from the United States Sports Academy in 1997. He also has worked as an assistant controller for the Dallas Cowboys and as an accountant for the Cavs/Gund Arena Company in Cleveland.

In addition, Kris Livingston, the former associate director of academics, has been promoted to director of the department. She has been a member of the department since 1997, when she became the school’s first director of operations for women’s basketball. When Ceal Barry retired from coaching, Livingston accompanied her into academic administration. The Miami, Ohio graduate replaced Barry in the role last month.

“Kris is organized and detailed as any employee I’ve ever been associated with,” Barry said. “She will be a great director of academics for our student-athletes here at CU.”

The position was first created in 1970, and she’s the eighth person to now serve in the post.

One other recent hiring was Jared Aurich as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, as he replaced Vernon Stephens, who joined the staff of the San Diego Chargers earlier this spring. Aurich joins the CU staff from Boise State, where he had served in a similar capacity the last two years.

He played linebacker for CU football coach Dan Hawkins at Boise from 2000-02, lettering three times. After graduating in 2003, he went on and earned his masters in exercise science at Auburn, graduating in 2005. Upon his return to BSU, he was reunited with strength coach Jeff Pitman, who joined Hawkins at CU last summer.

Colorado University Athletics