The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Del Conte adds two key executive staff positions at Texas
06.07.2018 | Texas Athletics
Former Athletics Director Shawn Eichorst and TCU Associate AD Drew Martin will be joining the Longhorns Athletics Department.
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte announced the hiring of two key executive staff positions with the addition of Shawn Eichorst and Drew Martin on Thursday.
A veteran athletics administrator who has served as Athletics Director at the University of Nebraska and the University of Miami, Eichorst will be the Longhorns' Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs. Martin, an experienced and respected marketing and external services professional, will take on the role of Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs.
"We've spent the past several months evaluating and studying our department and developing a plan for our future," said Del Conte. "We have a lot of talented people here, and Shawn and Drew are tremendous additions to our staff. They are the best at what they do and will play critical roles in helping us pull our staff together and function at a highly effective and efficient level. I know them well, they had a chance to meet our staff today, and I am thrilled they're on board."
The Athletics Director at Nebraska from 2012-17, Eichorst has more than a decade of experience as an AD including his time at Miami (2011-12) and his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (1999-2003).
"It's an honor and a privilege to come work at The University of Texas, one of the most iconic universities and athletics brands in the country, and to work with one of the most dynamic leaders in our business in Chris Del Conte," Eichorst said.
"Austin is a fantastic community in a great state and a fabulous place to bring up a family. We're all excited to come to Austin and immerse ourselves in Longhorn nation."
Before Miami, Eichorst was a member of the University of Wisconsin staff from 2006-11, rising from the position of Senior Associate AD to Executive Associate AD, and finally Deputy AD from 2009-11. From 2004-06, Eichorst was the Senior Associate AD for Administration at the University of South Carolina.
A former all-conference defensive back and team captain at UW-Whitewater, Eichorst graduated magna cum laude in business in 1990. He earned his law degree from Marquette University in 1995 and worked as an attorney in Milwaukee before launching his athletics administration career as UW-Whitewater's Athletics Director in June 1999.
A native of Lone Rock, Wis., Eichorst and his wife, Kristin, have three sons: Jack, Joseph and Bennett.
Martin comes to Texas with an extensive external services background ranging from trademark and licensing to marketing, social media and communications. He joins the Longhorns staff after spending the past seven years at TCU, where he was most recently Associate AD for Marketing and Licensing.
"It's really exciting to be able to work with Chris Del Conte again," Martin said. "The vision he has for collegiate athletics and how he runs an athletics department is tremendous. My vision for the external operations portion of that aligns very well with his, so that truly makes it exciting to be joining the Texas staff.
"Texas is the flagship institution of the state of Texas and is one of only a handful that is considered a national leader in collegiate athletics. To have the opportunity to come and help lead the external team here is something that has always been a dream of mine. I am thrilled to be a part of the team and to help Chris and everyone put the 'T' back in Texas."
Prior to TCU, Martin spent a year as a Regional Marketing Manager for Pepsi covering west Tennessee, Arkansas, north Mississippi and Louisiana.
"There's nothing like being a part of the city of Austin, as well," Martin said. "It's a vibrant, growing city that proudly supports the Longhorns and provides so many opportunities for students and student-athletes to come to not only The University of Texas, but also to get global experiences while living in a world-renowned city. My husband and I are looking forward to moving to Austin. It's a place we've always thought about living, and we look forward to getting here."
Martin began his full-time career at Texas A&M where he gained valuable experience handling several different roles. He joined the staff as an Assistant Sports Information Director in 1997, and in 2000 was promoted to Director of Internet and Special Projects/Brand Manager. He then assumed the role of Assistant AD from 2006-11.
A Memphis, Tenn. native and 1996 graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in communications and public relations, Martin was a student assistant and eventually a graduate intern for the Bulldogs' media relations department. He was a media relations assistant at the Big 12 Conference for a short period after Mississippi State.
Martin is a member of the NCAA Common Ground Leadership Team. The group's focus is to advance discussion around the intersection of LGBT student-athletes at faith-based institutions, as well as people of faith at private secular organizations.
Martin and his husband, Blake Macon, were married in Fort Worth in 2015.
