COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland has today announced Kelly Mehrtens is departing as Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Of Staff to accept a position as Managing Director of The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA).
Mehrtens joined Maryland in 2011 and during her five years at the University of Maryland, she has been responsible for leading both the internal and external operations departments. She played a vital role in Maryland's transition to the Big Ten Conference. Most recently, Mehrtens was part of a senior leadership team that helped spearhead the efforts for the new Cole Field House project.
“I am very grateful for Kelly's contributions to our athletics department,” said Anderson. “Kelly was one of the first additions to my senior staff when I first arrived to College Park and she has been a tremendous resource and advocate for the welfare of our student-athletes. Kelly's leadership and strong understanding of the intercollegiate landscape helped guide us during our transition into the Big Ten Conference. On behalf of our entire athletics department, we wish her continued success in her new role with The Trust.”
In her first three years, Mehrtens served as chief financial officer, directly supervised nine service units and was the sport supervisor for football, men's lacrosse and the Final Four women's basketball program. The football program made consecutive bowl appearances (Military Bowl and Foster Farms Bowl) for the first time since the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
In July of 2014, Mehrtens made a seamless transition to overseeing the external operations unit, which included marketing, digital marketing/social media, communications, and ticket operations. Under Mehrtens direction, Maryland saw attendance increases in each of its ticketed fall sports in 2014, including field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer and volleyball. Mehrtens led an external operations unit that saw a 30 percent increase in football attendance since 2012. In addition, the Terps increased their season ticket sales 25 percent from 2013 and 35 percent from 2012. Maryland boasted the largest increase in average attendance among Big Ten schools, filling Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium at more than 90 percent capacity in 2014.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Kevin Anderson and the entire University of Maryland Intercollegiate Athletics staff,” Mehrtens said. “I am proud of what we were able to accomplish over the past five years. We have exceptional coaches and student-athletes who I have been blessed to work with each and every day. I've also sincerely enjoyed the relationships I have developed collaborating with our many campus partners. It has been so rewarding to be a part of an outstanding athletics department that has such a bright future.”
In addition, Mehrtens served as the campus liaison for the NFLPA Internship Program over the past three years. Six NFL players have worked alongside Mehrtens and gained invaluable internship experience in the Maryland athletics department, learning various facets of the collegiate athletics landscape.
A Panama City, Florida native, Mehrtens earned her master's degree in education from the University of Illinois in 2001 and is a 1986 graduate of University of Alabama where she was a track and field NCAA All-American.
About The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA)
The Trust is a set of resources, programs and services designed to provide former players with the support, skills and tools to help ensure success off the field and in life after football. The Trust emerged from the commitment of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and its members to ensure that players are provided access to benefits and services that assist in their success beyond the game of football. It culminates the hard-fought efforts of past and present CBA battles to better serve former NFL players. For more information, visit www.playerstrust.com <http://www.playerstrust.com/>. Follow The Trust on Twitter at @PlayersTrust and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/PlayersTrust.
– Maryland –
