Oct. 18, 2007

1. Name
David Lovell

2. Current Position & Employer
Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Promotions, University of Miami

3. # Years in current position
3 ½ years

4. Why/when did you decide to pursue a career in college athletics?
I grew up on a college campus and always had an appreciation for the atmosphere surrounding collegiate athletics. I always knew that I wanted to be involved in college athletics in some capacity.

5. Who do you consider to be your role model in this industry?
David Brown, the Ohio State University. He gave me my first full-time job in college athletics and I still seek his advice and guidance on a regular basis.

6. What are your career aspirations?
I'm open to many things career-wise, but one important goal of mine is to earn a doctoral degree and teach classes while still working in the administration of collegiate athletics.

7. How important do you feel your involvement is with NACMA in terms of continuing to grow your career?
My involvement in NACMA has been critical to my career growth. Aside from the obvious networking opportunities, I have shared and have learned countless ideas for making our business better, and I have met some fantastic people through my participation in NACMA. Some of my best friends are NACMA members, and that has been a wonderful by-product of my involvement.

8. What is your favorite memory from your job, or project you are most proud of?
My favorite memory is when I was working as an Assistant Marketing Director at Indiana University when the Hoosiers won the 1999 Men's Soccer championship. Receiving a championship ring a few months later was a great feeling and was a direct acknowledgement of my hard work with the program. I will never forget that.

9. Were you ever involved in a marketing "blunder"? If so, please explain!
There have been a few blunders over the years, but they are blunders that only our staff would know about. Our fans would not have noticed the blunders, which is a good thing.

11. What do you feel is the most important quality for those early in the profession to possess?
Drive, initiative, and the willingness to do what it takes to complete the task.

12. What advice would you give to those who are looking to venture into the field of collegiate athletics marketing?
Make sure that you really want to be in this field; don't use college athletics as a fall-back from another job or field. College athletics is challenging enough for those who want to work in the field, but with those challenges come many rewarding times as well.

13. In your opinion, where is collegiate athletics marketing headed in the future?
I'm concerned that we'll reach a critical level of oversaturation in the marketplace, resulting in an overwhelmingly negative view of college athletics as a whole. I'm not sure where the tipping point is, but I hope we find it before it is too late.

14. What is the best advice anyone have ever given you?
My father used to tell me to "fish, or cut bait." Simply put, he was telling me to commit to the project at hand, or scrap it and move on. Jump in with both feet, or don't jump at all. I still apply that advice in my daily life.

15. Who are the people who have influenced you the most?
My parents have been, and always will be, the biggest influences in my life.