SAN DIEGO – San Diego State Director of Athletics John David Wicker has announced the hiring of Curt Apsey as Executive Associate Athletic Director for Development. A veteran administrator with an unparalleled record of success, Apsey joins the Aztec staff after completing a 21-year association with Boise State University, including a five-year stint as Executive Director of Athletics from 2015-2020.
"I am excited to announce Curt Apsey as the new Executive Associate AD for Development," Wicker said. "Curt has an accomplished history of fundraising success for major facility projects as well as overall growth of the scholarship program. Curt joins San Diego State at a dynamic time for not only the athletic department, but the institution as a whole, and I look forward to him leading our development staff to great success."
During his tenure leading Bronco Athletics, Apsey renegotiated a multimedia agreement with Learfield IMG and a sponsorship deal with Nike while securing a new 15-year arena naming rights contract with Extra Mile convenience stores. He also served on the Mountain West Conference working committee that increased that increased the league's media rights deal from $13 million to $40 million.
In addition, Apsey oversaw the construction of Boise State's new indoor golf practice facility as well as the installation of a new football turf along with ribbon boards inside the stadium and arena.
Under Apsey's leadership, Boise State won 19 conference championships and boasted 22 conference player-of-the-year recipients to go with 14 league coach-of-the-year honorees. In addition, the Broncos finished as the top Group of 5 athletic program in the Learfield IMG College Directors Cup Standings in 2018 and 2019. He was named a finalist for the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year award in 2020.
"This position here at San Diego State checked all the boxes for me and my family," Apsey said. "The momentum that has been initiated by President de la Torre, JD Wicker and the entire Aztec community is truly amazing. This is a tremendous opportunity, and I can't wait to get started."
Apsey started at Boise State as associate athletic director for marketing and promotions in 1998. In that role, he provided direct oversight of the Broncos' sports marketing, media relations and athletic ticket offices while managing the department's corporate giving and collegiate licensing programs. In addition, he negotiated TV and radio contracts and served as sport supervisor for the men's and women's golf teams along with the women's soccer squad.
In 2005, Apsey was promoted to senior associate athletic director, a position he held for nine years. In that capacity, Apsey was responsible for the fundraising and construction of several large capital projects on the Boise State campus, including a basketball practice complex, a new football video board and sound system, as well as new training and practice facilities for the football team.
Additionally, Apsey organized and managed strategies for the football stadium expansion, securing funds for the pre-sale of all club seats, suites and loge boxes totaling $4 million annually and securing $8 million in naming rights opportunities within facility. He also assisted with the Broncos' transition from the Western Athletic Conference to the Mountain West and served as interim athletic director in the fall of 2011.
Following a stint as athletic director for the 2014-15 season at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, Apsey returned to the Idaho capital as Boise State's athletic director in August 2015.
Apsey was a four-year starter on the Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo men's soccer team from 1980-83, garnering first-team all-Far West Region accolades in 1982 and 1983. Following his collegiate playing career, he spent six years on the Mustang staff as an assistant coach from 1984-89.
Apsey landed his first job as an athletic administrator at CSU Bakersfield, serving five-year stint as assistant director of development from 1990-94. During his tenure with the Roadrunner program, annual giving and athletic association membership increased by 50 percent. Apsey's efforts also resulted in a 50 percent increase in special event and sponsorship revenue over a three-year period.
From Bakersfield, Apsey moved south to Cal State San Bernardino, where he spent four years as an assistant athletic director. Among his endless duties with the Coyote program, Apsey was responsible for identifying, cultivating and securing major gifts from individuals and corporations. He also created and developed an advisory board, which included 40 of the strongest fundraising leaders from the business community, CSUSB faculty and staff and select alumni.
Apsey earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in 1988.