DeLeon Named RCAF Executive Director, Deputy AD

Lee De Leon, who has served as a fundraiser and athletic director at the Division I level, has been tabbed to head the Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation as its Executive Director and been named Deputy AD for the Athletics Department.

The 36 year old De Leon's most recent position was at Purdue, where he served as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director and Assistant Vice President for Development, a position he held for a year.

“Through an exhaustive process, we interviewed several highly recommended and extremely qualified candidates,” RCAF Executive Committee Chairman Bryan Hanks said. “Lee was able to separate himself and make it clear that he was the person, not only that our University Foundation needed, but that athletics and the entire campus needed, to help us transition our athletics program and our university to the next level.”

 

This will be the seventh stop for De Leon, who began his career at LSU in 2005 as a marketing assistant.  He then served as Assistant Director of Marketing for a year at the University of Houston before taking over the Directorship from 2006-08.

“My family and I are thrilled to join the Ragin’ Cajuns family,” De León said. “Being from Houston, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the passion and loyalty of the Louisiana fan base. I’m really excited to get there and begin building relationships in the Lafayette community, and throughout Acadiana. I’m so thankful for this incredible opportunity from the RCAF Executive Committee, search committee chairman Bryan Hanks, associate vice president Lisa Capone and Director of Athletics Bryan Maggard.”

 

In 2008 he became the Director of Annual Giving at the University of Arizona from 2008-10 before becoming Assistant AD for Major Gifts and Annual Giving for one year.

In 2011 he went to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque as Associate AD for Development and Executive Director of the Lobo Club from 2011-2014.

He shifted gears in 2014 when he became the Athletic Director at Abilene Christian University in Amarillo, Texas, where he oversaw the transition from Division II to Division I Athletics.  He served in that role before his position at Purdue.

I am very excited to have Lee, Lacey and the boys join the Ragin’ Cajuns family,” Director of Athletics Bryan Maggard said. “Lee is a proven fundraiser with immense experience in college athletics. I know he will hit the ground running and continue the success of the RCAF.”

On Wednesday, July 17, De León will be introduced at introductory press conference, which will take place at 10 a.m. in the auditorium located inside the Donald and Janice Mosing Student-Athlete Performance Center. Ragin’ Cajuns fans and the public are invited to attend.

De Leon and his wife Lacey have been married for ten years.  They have two children, Landon (7) and Luke (4).  De Leon is of Hispanic heritage and is fluent in Spanish.

He replaces Jim Harris, who left in May to join the staff at Maryland.