Why is no one talking about this II

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Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Joins Staff


The Athletics Department welcomes Robert Stewart to take the newly created position as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. Stewart, who spent the first 15 years of his career at Texas A&M, comes to the Ragin’ Cajuns from the University of Houston, where he spent his last four years.

“While I am Texas born and raised, I call Acadiana “home” by marriage,” said Stewart. “My wife was born and raised in Lafayette so I am very familiar with the incredible culture and proud to be a part of the Ragin’ Cajuns family and look forward to raising my 15-month old daughter here.”

Stewart has extensive experience in collegiate marketing and promotions, licensing and branding and was involved in fundraising and facility planning for the new football stadium at the University of Houston that is set to open for the 2014 season.

“I strongly believe that the fan experience is paramount to the success of an athletics program,” Stewart explains. “Without strong fan support, it is difficult to build an environment that attracts recruits, sponsors and season ticket sales which ultimately allows us to compete on a national level each year.”

Stewart will supervise the external operations of the Athletics Department, including Sports Information, Marketing and Promotions and the Ticket Office. He will also help with the fundraising efforts of the Athletics Department.

“Our External Affairs unit will work cohesively to better serve our fans and provide the best fan experience at each of our sports. The University and Department of Athletics are growing at an incredible rate and it is important time for our program,” said Stewart. “From the RCAF Annual Fund, the Facilities Master Plan and the incredible success of our programs across the board, we have the opportunity take our University, Acadiana community and, of course, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns to the next level.”

Stewart added that the NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals for both softball and baseball allowed him to quickly meet a lot of fans. “In the short time since joining the staff, it is easy to see that Ragin’ Cajuns fans are the best in the country. I look forward to meeting many more in the months ahead.”

Ragin’ Cajuns fans are encouraged to contact Stewart with questions, concerns and ideas at rob.stewart@louisiana.edu

[CajunRage]

This is a big deal. Welcome Rob!

[jllanclos]

So is the new "Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs" the one responsible for communicating that our athletic teams are to be called Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns?

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Sounds like the SID's are under him.

[Hammer58]

So is the new "Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs" the one responsible for communicating that our athletic teams are to be called Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns?

That's how I read that. Ok, let's see if our marketing improves and if a consistent message is put forth on what we want to be known as athletically.

[CajunRage]

Rob Stewart
Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs

Phone: (337) 482-1058
Email: rob.stewart@louisiana.edu

In his first year as Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns is Rob Stewart.

Prior to joining the Ragin’ Cajuns staff in May of 2014, Stewart spent four years at the University of Houston where he served as Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Promotions.

During his time at UH, Stewart helped position the department for conference realignment and transition strategy from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference, planned and implemented a campaign strategy that resulted in raising approximately $48 million towards new football and basketball facilities, and led the complete redesign of athletics marks, while developing internal and external style guides to strengthen the department’s brand identity and brand equity.

Stewart, who led a marketing department at UH of four full-time employees and 15 student interns, led an award-winning promotional campaign of the 2010 football season that increased ticket sales by a nation-leading 82 percent, including five sellouts. He managed the University’s licensing program by developing and implementing strategies to maximize revenue, which resulted in over $500,000 in 2012 and a 22-percent increase from 2010.

Before his tenure at UH, Stewart served for six years at Texas A&M, beginning as Director of In-Game Marketing (2004-2008) before assuming the role of Director of Marketing (2008-10). Stewart created and oversaw the direction and implementation of the 12th Man Team Rewards Program, a fan loyalty program which broke attendance records for each of the intercollegiate sports offered at Texas A&M and would serve as a model for numerous schools across the country.

He assisted in a team effort to increase ticket sales and attendance through advertising campaigns, promotional materials and publicity avenues. Stewart coordinated in all facets of in-game atmosphere, including the band, dance team, Yell leaders and student groups.

A 1997 graduate of Texas A&M, Stewart began working for his alma mater as the Promotions and Game Operations Coordinator from 1999-2004, planning and implementing promotional activities for nine sports.

Stewart has been honored four times by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), including earning the Gold Medal Award in 2006 (Best Display Newspaper Advertisement) and 2013 (Best Student Promotion). He was twice honored by the Houston chapter of American Marketing Association (AMA), including Marketer of the Year in 2010.

He has served as Marketing Coordinator eight times for NCAA Championship events and has served on the Organizing Committee for “Final Four Friday” at the 2008 and 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four.

A native of Houston, Stewart earned a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology with specialization in Sport Management from Texas A&M in 1999.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Sounds like we still do not have a man whose job it is, is to recruit BIG MONEY. That position is still waiting to be filled.

As far as branding, i.e., Louisiana vs UL Lafayette, that baby sits at the feet of T-hyphen-Jo. If you do not like what this man is doing with that regards you need to vent to the big man not him. He is merely doing the bidding of T-Jo, and we already know his nads were severed by a woman named Tabby, and a president named Bruno.

[jllanclos]

Email sent:

Hi Rob,

As a long-time Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns fan and proud alumnus, I want to take a moment to welcome you and congratulate you on your new appointment as Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs.

The appointment is way overdue and badly needed. A mixed marketing message has kept our university from fully capitalizing on the unprecedented athletic success we enjoyed this past season.

I am hopeful that your appointment helps us to develop and effectively communicate a consistent message about our brand as Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.

Our university is known nationally by a million different names. When our students earned a bowl berth, ESPN displayed the Lafayette Leopards logo on the first down marker. Our student-athletes deserve better than "UL-Laf," "Lafayette Leopards," and even "Lafayette-Monroe" references.

I hope that the message becomes unified, clear, and unmistakable: that we are Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.

Thanks in advance for your service to our university, its fans, and our student-athletes.

[CajunFan3406]

I got a letter from this guy the other day thanking me for my RCAF donation. I was curious if he was the new A-AD. This answers my question.

[CajunJack55]

I really like that he is from a big time program in A&M. Hopefully he will bring in big time ideas from A&M and Houston. This has got me very excited and is certainly another step in the right direction.

[Fais do-do]

One Statement:

(Tom Cruise voice)..................."SHOW ME THE MONEY, SHOW ME THE MOOONNNNEEEYYYYYY!!!!!!!!........"

[CajunRage]

I really like that he is from a big time program in A&M. Hopefully he will bring in big time ideas from A&M and Houston. This has got me very excited and is certainly another step in the right direction.

I'm more excited in his role with Houston than A&M. It's not easy, but not extremely difficult to do good things with money like A&M.