University of Delaware introduces new AD

The Blue Hens new athletic director is Eric Ziady, who’s been at Boston College for the past 14 years.

The 47-year-old native of Andover, Mass. will start his work in Newark in early November.  Ziady becomes just the fifth AD in the history of the University of Delaware.  

“I am humbled and proud to accept the offer to become the University of Delaware’s next director of athletics,” said Ziady.  “I can’t wait to work with this fine group of coaches, administrators, and staff as we go forward in the years ahead and build upon that great legacy.”

Ziady was most recently Boston College’s senior associate athletics director for business operations.  Ziady’s achievements at BC include negotiating a six-year, multi-million dollar sponsorship deal between the school and athletic equipment company Under Armour that resulted in all 31 sport programs at the school being outfitted in Under Armour gear.  The deal was the largest in the history of that program.  UD also has a sponsorship agreement with Under Armour.

“He’s an incredibly strong financial administrator and a proven revenue-generator,” says UD President Patrick Harker.  “He absolutely shares our most fundamental goal: to educate student-athletes who will lead in competition, in the classroom and in the community.”

Ziady replaces Bernard Muir who left UD over the summer after three years.  Deputy Director of Athletics Samantha Huge has been interim director of athletics since then.