University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Hires Leah Beasley as Executive Associate AD for External Engagement
April 21, 2022 | Athletics
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione announced Thursday that Leah Beasley will join OU as executive associate athletics director for external engagement, and will oversee the department's communications, digital media, graphics design, licensing/branding, marketing/fan engagement, SoonerVision and ticketing areas.
Beasley comes to Norman after a nearly 10-year stint at Mississippi State University, where she most recently served as deputy athletics director for external affairs, presiding over the Bulldogs' areas of broadcast operations, communications and content/creative, digital and revenue innovation, fan experience/outbound ticket sales, marketing/fan engagement and sponsorship retention/activation, and was the primary sport administrator for baseball and the secondary administrator for football. Her duties as deputy AD also included involvement with university's risk management and behavioral intervention teams, university and athletics diversity and inclusion councils, the university's transformational planning committee and the athletics department's COVID task force and NIL working groups.
She was hired by MSU in August 2013 as assistant athletics director for marketing and was promoted to associate AD for marketing and fan engagement in August 2016, senior associate AD for external affairs in August 2017 and executive senior associate AD for external affairs in August 2018.
"Leah is a bright and dynamic administrator who will be an innovator in our department," said Castiglione. "Her background and skill will be a great complement to our leadership team. I am confident she will help us as we continue to strengthen our department and provide a world-class experience for our student-athletes and stakeholders. We look forward to welcoming her to the Sooner family very soon."
"Leah is a bright and dynamic administrator who will be an innovator in our department."
Joe Castiglione
Beasley also served as MSU's athletics department liaison to Bulldog Sports Properties, chaired the Reunions & Recognitions Committee, was a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council and was a founding member of the Fan Experience Committee. In addition, she served several campus entities, including the Communications Council, Alumni Association, Student Affairs, Licensing and Branding, Safe Zone/Ally and the President's Commission on the Status of Women.
Born in Ruston, La., Beasley is an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (board of directors), Women Leaders in College Sports and the International Collegiate Licensing Association.
"Oklahoma and Joe Castiglione continue to define leadership and excellence when it comes to collegiate athletics, and I am thrilled, honored, humbled and thankful for the opportunity to join the Sooner family," said Beasley. "When I began talking to Joe, Zac Selmon and others at OU, the shared vision for holistic success was immediately evident — and exciting. I look forward to locking arms with OU's elite coaches and staff to continue to ensure a fun, productive and rewarding experience for our student-athletes, fans and our many other stakeholders."
Prior to Mississippi State, Beasley served as assistant AD and associate AD at Louisiana Tech University, where she led the marketing, branding and game management departments.
Beasley graduated from Louisiana Tech in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in marketing and received her Master of Business Administration in 2006. She also played softball at Louisiana Tech and was a four-year letterwinner.
Beasley's hire is pending OU Board of Regents approval.
