John Mason began serving as Interim Vice President and Director of Athletics at Northern Kentucky University on March 27, 2026.
Mason joined Norse Athletics in August 2025 as the Associate Athletics Director for Development, where he works closely with alumni, donors, and community ambassadors to strengthen philanthropic support for NKU Athletics. In this role, Mason collaborates with university development leadership on both immediate and long-term fundraising priorities, including major gifts, endowed scholarships, capital projects and competitive excellence initiatives. He also oversees the day-to-day operations of athletics development and the Go Norse Fund, helping expand philanthropic engagement that supports more than 400 Norse student-athletes and athletics programs.
Mason brings more than 30 years of experience in Division I collegiate athletics, with a background in corporate partnerships, multimedia rights, business development and marketing. Prior to NKU, Mason served as a Vice President and the General Manager of Bearcats Sports Properties for more than 20 years, where he oversaw all facets of Learfield’s operation as the exclusive multimedia rights partner for University of Cincinnati Athletics, resulting in unprecedented corporate partnership revenue growth, stadium enhancements, strengthened NIL efforts, expanded media reach and brand positioning, and increased digital and content offerings further advancing the mission of collegiate athletics.
Earlier in his career, Mason was the Director of Athletics Marketing and Promotions for University of Cincinnati Athletics. He also served as an Assistant to the Director of Athletics Marketing and Sales at Illinois State University.
Mason earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Bradley University and his master’s degree in kinesiology and recreation from Illinois State University with an emphasis in sport management/athletics administration.
As a former collegiate baseball player at Middle Tennessee State University and Illinois Central College, Mason brings a deep personal appreciation for the student-athlete experience and the role athletics plays in shaping leadership, discipline and community engagement.
Mason and his wife, Keli (NKU ’95) reside in Union, Kentucky. They have two daughters: Sarah (NKU ’25) and Lauren.
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