UA Athletic Department Hires Another Fundraiser

Barely a week after announcing the expansion of the Razorback Foundation, heretofore considered the fundraising arm of its athletic department, the University of Arkansas announced the hiring of John Erck as the department’s new director of development.

According to an accompanying news release, Erck will be responsible for securing private gift support for all 19 sports programs. Erck will report jointly to the athletic department and the office of university of development.

Translation: Erck will lead the athletic department’s efforts in major gift-giving and its capital fund, which will handle facilities construction and improvements among other things.

The two new hires at the Razorback Foundation, Jessica Dorrell and Marvin Caston, meanwhile, will aid in the group’s effort to expand its membership. By increasing its membership, the Razorback Foundation in essence would be boosting its annual fund, which pays for scholarships and coaches’ salaries.

While Dorrell (volleyball) and Caston (football) were athletes at Arkansas, Erck comes from Vanderbilt, where he helped cultivate $10 million in gifts during three-plus years.

In other UA news, athletic director Jeff Long announced Clayton Hamilton as the department’s new associate athletic director for finance. Hamilton will replace Tom Dorre, who is retiring after more than 42 years on Jan. 31, 2010. Hamilton will work alongside Dorre throughout January.