IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Charlie Taylor, assistant athletics director for ticket sales and operations at the University of Oklahoma, has been named associate athletics director for strategic communications and marketing at the University of Iowa.
In his new role, Taylor will oversee the External Relations unit within the UI athletics department, including marketing, communications, HawkVision, new media, graphics, and photography. In addition, Taylor will serve as contact with Learfield’s Hawkeye Sports Properties, the official multimedia rights holder for the University of Iowa athletics department.
Taylor has been a member of the Oklahoma athletics staff for eight years, previously holding the position of assistant athletics director of marketing for seven years.
“We are excited to have Charlie join the Hawkeye team,” said Matt Henderson, senior associate athletics director for revenue and external relations. “He brings a unique perspective to our department with his experience in marketing and ticket operations. Charlie has spent the past eight years focusing on improving fan experience and is excited to bring that knowledge back to the University of Iowa.”
“My family and I cannot be more excited to come home to Iowa City,” said Taylor. “I want to thank Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione, Larry Naifeh, Luther Lee, Kenny Mossman and the entire OU family for an incredible eight years in Norman. Now having the opportunity to serve with Iowa director of athletics Gary Barta, Matt Henderson, the Iowa leadership team and coaching staff, we look forward to continuing the rich tradition of Hawkeye athletics while positioning our brand for the future.”
At Oklahoma, Taylor directed the ticketing strategy, and sales and operations for OU’s 21 intercollegiate athletics teams, as well as special events. Taylor had administrative oversight of OU’s Paciolan relationship, management of the OU-IMG/Learfield ticket sales team, the OU Athletics box office and the Sooner Rewards program.
Taylor was tasked with proactively increasing ticketing revenues for the department in the most effective and efficient manner while providing the best ticket experiences for Sooner fans.
In his role leading the marketing department, Taylor managed advertising, promotions and game entertainment elements of OU Athletics. He also managed advertising relationships and launched the Sooner Rewards program. He initiated the department’s addition of the IMG/Learfield ticket sales team in 2012.
Taylor led in the creation of the Sooner Jr. F.A.N.S. grassroots community relations program, which now provides more than 4,300 hours of community service each year. He also managed OU’s annual sponsorship and game production of the AT&T Red River Showdown, as well as the OU Spirit program and historic Sooner Schooner.
Taylor previously worked 10 years in the Arena Football League, serving as part of the office staff from August 2004 until joining the staff at Oklahoma. As director of partnership services, he was responsible for executing national relationships and marketing for the AFL’s blue-chip partners in his final four years with the league.
Taylor was part of multi-year partnership renewals with a number of those blue-chip companies, and secured a multi-year exclusive contract with Discover Card.
Taylor worked with AFL teams for five years and joined the league office in August, 2004, from the Los Angeles Avengers. He served as the Avengers’ director of marketing for three seasons. In that position, he oversaw marketing, promotions, brand development and advertising for the team. During his tenure with the Avengers, tickets sales increased 75 percent and in-game attendance went from 51 percent to 85 percent.
Taylor also spent three years with the AFL’s Detroit Fury and Palace Sports & Entertainment. In 2000, he served as business operations coordinator with the Fury and played an integral part in the launching of the team during its 2001 inaugural season.
He brought together elements of business operations, ticket sales, sponsorships, public relations and game operations. Taylor also helped develop the Fury’s brand communications, grass roots marketing initiatives, and group ticket programming.
Taylor began with Palace & Sports Entertainment in 1998 in ticket sales. In that position, he worked with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, the WNBA’s Detroit Shock and the International Hockey League’s Detroit Vipers in addition to the Fury and a pair of music theaters.
Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa in 1996, serving as drum major of the Hawkeye Marching Band during his undergraduate career. He earned a master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Tennessee in 1998, where he worked as a graduate assistant with the Lady Vol athletics department.
Taylor is a native of Davenport, Iowa. Charlie and his wife, Kristen, have three children; Addy, Chase, and Natalie.