May 14, 2008

AMES, Iowa - Coming off a year of record-breaking season ticket sales in several sports, the Iowa State Athletics Department announced it has promoted Mary Pink to Associate Athletics Director for Marketing. The 13-year member of the Cyclone staff becomes the fourth Associate A.D. in the department.

"Administratively, we've asked Mary and our marketing staff to assume greater responsibility in selling tickets and improving the game-day environment for Cyclone sports," Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. "They have excelled in both selling tickets and getting fans engaged with our program on many different fronts."

A year ago, Iowa State set school records for season ticket sales in football (36,610), men's basketball (10,257) and wrestling (4,311). Additionally, women's basketball ranked fifth nationally in attendance, wrestling was second and volleyball (19th) made the list of national attendance leaders for the first time.

Pink, who has overseen the Cyclones' marketing department for 10 years, was an Assistant A.D. the last three years. Besides overseeing the marketing unit, she is the department liaison with trademark licensing, its merchandise partner (the University Bookstore), the spirit squads and the ISU Marching Band.

She is the current president of the National Association of Collegiate Marketers Association (NACMA). A year ago, her department was recognized with a national award from NACMA for a "targeted group promotion" for its Cyclone FanFest event.

In the last year, Pink oversaw the throwback jersey promotion for the Iowa football game and the celebration of 100 years of men's basketball and assisted with the new branding identity for the Iowa State Athletics Department.

The marketing staff, under Pink's direction, also re-structured the football teams' game-day arrival and field entrance, added innovative content for the LED ring beam and video boards in Hilton Coliseum, re-energized the Lil' Clone Club (which routinely has several thousand kids as members annually) and instituted a video board / web site scrapbook concept in which fans submit photos for display.

"Certainly, there is a direct connection between promotion of our product and delivering a fun experience for event attendees and then witnessing bigger and more enthused crowds," Pollard said. "Our entire staff has contributed to our improvement, and the marketing staff has had a lead role."

Pink's promotion takes effect July 1.