Fresno State hires Terry Donovan as senior associate AD

Terry Donovan, who has more than 15 years of athletics business and administration experience, has been hired as Fresno State’s senior associate athletic director for business operations.

Donovan has spent the past four years as the executive senior associate athletics director and chief financial officer at Syracuse, where he helped transform a $3 million deficit into a $5 million surplus within 24 months while managing a budget of more than $80 million, according to a Fresno State news release.

“Having the ability to bring Terry Donovan to Fresno State will enhance our entire business operation,” Bulldogs athletic director Jim Bartko said. “Terry’s expertise and knowledge of our region and the college athletics landscape will help us achieve our goals. I’m glad we could welcome Terry and his family home to Fresno.”

Donovan began his collegiate athletics administration career in 2000 at Nevada, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1997 and his M.B.A. in 2003. He started as a sales and promotions representative before being promoted to director of sales and ticket operations and eventually to assistant athletic director in 2004.

He moved on to Arizona State, where he served as assistant athletic director for finance and human resources, before taking a job a Syracuse.

Donovan’s financial expertise will be a key resource in Fresno State’s push to accomplish an estimated $80 million renovation to Bulldog Stadium.

“Excitement doesn’t describe how I feel about this opportunity to come to Fresno State and the Valley – a place my family is truly able to call home,” Donovan said. “I can’t wait to get there and get to work on moving Jim Bartko’s vision forward.”

Donovan and his wife, Brandi, a Clovis native, have two sons, Eli and Colby.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Fresno State hires Terry Donovan as senior associate AD."