Mark Whitworth

Asbury University’s reputation for excellence in and out of the classroom was reinforced again on March 29, 2018, as former Southeastern Conference (SEC) Associate Commissioner, Mark Whitworth, was introduced as the school’s first-ever Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics.

“While in the national spotlight, Mark Whitworth continually exemplified the same positive integration of faith, learning and athletics that Asbury is known for,” said former Asbury President Sandra Gray when announcing his appointment. “Mark understands the unique mission and atmosphere surrounding Asbury and its athletics department. It is very significant in the history of our University, as this is the first time that we have had someone at the Vice President level who will be serving on the cabinet.”

Since arriving on the AU campus, Whitworth has led several student-focused enhancements to the Luce Center. The home of Asbury Athletics now features a new Strength and Performance Center and an expansive Sports Medicine Center. The Luce Center lobby was also updated in the summer of 2019 with illuminated AU logos and digital signage highlighting student-athletes, coaches, and sponsors. In October 2018, AU dedicated a new Team Suite, game-day entrance and new branding throughout the facility.

Whitworth is committed to telling the story of TeamAU through a variety of new initiatives, including a new athletics website launched in July of 2019, a Corporate Sponsor program and Asbury Sports Productions, a student-led content creation team. For the first-time ever, Asbury Athletics enjoys radio coverage in central Kentucky on WNJK-FM. The Asbury Sports Minute, also produced by AU students, airs every weekday throughout the cademic year. Live event radio coverage for men’s and women’s basketball began during the 2018-19 season. The 2019-20 schedule eatures more than 35 live events including basketball, baseball and softball.

A 1984 Asbury graduate and former member of the university’s board of trustees, Whitworth served on the SEC staff for 27 years before becoming Chief Operating Officer at Knight Eady (a sports marketing and event management firm) in 2016. During his tenure, he helped KE earn the designation as Birmingham’s 12th fastest growing business in 2017.

The Louisville, Ky., native was appointed to a newly-created role as Associate Commissioner for Men’s Basketball in 2013. As the SEC’s lead administrator for all men’s basketball matters for three seasons, Whitworth’s responsibilities included serving as the staff liaison to the head coaches, coordinating conference and non-conference scheduling, directing the SEC Tournament, and working closely with the league’s television partners. He also represented the SEC on the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Officiating Board of Directors and the Competition Committee.

Whitworth previously served as Associate Commissioner for External Affairs. In that role, he was the SEC’s day-to-day contact for ESPN, working closely with the national cable network to coordinate coverage of more than 420 SEC events per year across multiple distribution platforms.

During the SEC’s most recent expansion, Whitworth was a member of the Transition Team responsible for incorporating Texas A&M and Missouri as new members of the conference on July 1, 2012. He also participated in the league’s multimedia rights negotiations, which resulted in unprecedented agreements with ESPN and CBS in 2008-09 and the SEC Network and an extension with ESPN in 2013.

Besides his responsibilities with the SEC’s television partners, Whitworth worked closely with the league’s digital initiatives, branding, marketing, licensing and the corporate sponsorship program. He also served as the Commissioner’s liaison to the SEC Football Coaches, Men’s Basketball Coaches, and Men’s Golf Coaches. In addition, Whitworth served as liaison to the SEC Chief Marketing Administrators, Chief Development Officers, the Fan Experience Working Group and the institutional media and sponsorship rights holders.

In his role as Chairman of the SEC’s 75th Anniversary Committee, Whitworth was responsible for all components of the year-long celebration and multi-platform “Stories of Character” media campaign in 2007-08.

He began his career at the SEC as an Associate Director in the media relations department and was promoted to Director of Media Relations in 1990. He served in that capacity when the SEC expanded to 12 member institutions and conducted the nation’s first-ever conference football championship game in 1992.

Prior to joining the SEC, Whitworth served on the Athletic Department staff at the University of Tennessee from 1984-1988. While at UT, he earned a master’s degree in Sports Administration. Whitworth received a bachelor’s degree from Asbury University in 1984 and was a member of the baseball team. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees at his alma mater in 2009 and was a recipient of the 2014 “A Award” given annually to alumni who have achieved distinction professionally and demonstrated loyalty to Asbury.