By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
The “interim” part of Erick Harper’s title at UNLV is gone.
Harper is now UNLV’s athletics director.
Harper was appointed interim athletics director Aug. 16 after Desiree Reed-Francois left UNLV for the athletics director job at Missouri.
As athletics director, Harper will continue to oversee all aspects of the athletics program and the Thomas & Mack Center, including general operations, fiscal affairs, facilities, strategic planning and external relations.
Harper has been in university athletics administration for more than 30 years. He joined UNLV as senior associate athletics director for development in 2012, overseeing fundraising efforts. He also worked as a sport administrator for multiple sports, including football and women’s golf.
Before coming to Las Vegas, Harper was associate athletics director for football operations at the University of Arizona from 2003 to 2011. He began his athletics administrative career at Kansas State University (1990-2003), where he served in development, marketing, and compliance roles and as a sport administrator for multiple sports.
Harper received his bachelor’s degree in 1992 from Kansas State University, where he was a four-year starter and standout defensive back for the Wildcats football team. He later earned a master’s in organizational management and leadership from Ashford University in 2013. Harper and his wife, Patrice Hester-Harper, have two daughters, Sydney (14) and Avery (5).