CARSON – California State University, Dominguez Hills Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. William Franklin announced the hiring of Eric McCurdy as the Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics.
 
McCurdy begins his role as the 11^th athletic director in the department's 53-year history this week. He also succeeds Toros softball coach Jim Maier, who served the position on an interim basis since May.
 
"Eric is a high-energy leader that will bring a fresh perspective to the Toro Nation," Dr. Franklin said in a statement. "Given his consulting and fundraising background, he will provide an innovative and non-traditional approach to take Athletics to the next level. His experience also speaks to community engagement and he will immediately advance our Strategic Planning aspirations to be a Pillar of the Community.
 
"Eric also has direct and relevant experiences working in higher education," he continued. "Throughout his career, Eric made enduring connections to student athletes and was successful in helping them excel in their respective sport, in the classroom, and in their chosen profession. Eric cites student-athlete success and development as the most rewarding aspect of this position."
 
McCurdy returns to intercollegiate athletics after serving the last four years running his own consulting firm that aids mission-oriented organizations and advises on improving learning and work environments. He also provided guidance for potential student-athletes and their families through the NCAA recruitment, transfer and NIL process.
 
Prior to starting his firm, McCurdy spent eight years serving as the Executive Director of Athletics and the Metro League Commissioner for the Seattle Public Schools. Before that, McCurdy served eight years at the University of Houston as its men's basketball director of operations/academics.
 
"I am truly honored and blessed to accept this position at CSUDH," McCurdy began. "Many thanks to Dr. Franklin, President Thomas Parham, the members of the search committee and everyone involved in the selection and hiring process. I'd like to thank Dr. Kurt Patberg with Athletics Staffing and Consultants as well.
 
"My family and I are very excited about moving to Southern California and becoming part of the Toro family," McCurdy continued. "I look forward to working with coaches, faculty and staff as we serve the amazing student-athletes, alumni and boosters that help make this institution so great. Go Toros!"
 
While serving his role for the Seattle Public Schools, McCurdy successfully focused on fundraising. initiated a Major Gifts Fund which resulted $2.74 million, the largest individual gift for an interscholastic public-school athletics department in the state of Washington with a 44 percent student participation increase.
 
He developed strategies for a historically underserved school gifting $4.3 million, resulting a 25 percent increase in the school's graduation rate.
 
McCurdy was instrumental in the City of Seattle passing levy funding of $2.8 million over seven years for Seattle Public Schools athletics. At the same time, he created an annual fund resulting in yearly increases of at least 10 percent athletics budget.
 
In addition, McCurdy successfully helped pass BEX IV, known as building excellence, levy of $699 million and BEX V of $475 million with over 72 percent of the Seattle votes approving both propositions.
 
As Commissioner of the Metro League, McCurdy oversaw it becoming known as the best high school basketball conference in the nation, placing seven players in the NBA.
 
During his time in the collegiate ranks, McCurdy served oversaw the operations and academics of Houston's men's basketball team. The 2009-10 team saw its greatest success in two decades, winning the Conference USA Tournament en route to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years.
 
A former soccer letterwinner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, McCurdy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a minor in physical education. He then graduated Cum Laude with his Master's Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine.
 
In addition to owning a United State Soccer Federation 'D' license, he also is a Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA).