University of Minnesota Athletics
Dusty Clements Joins U of M as Athletics Fundraiser
6/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The University of Minnesota today announced it has hired Dusty Clements as senior associate athletics director for development. In his role with Gopher Athletics, Clements will be the director of the department's fundraising office, the Golden Gopher Fund, overseeing all athletics fundraising operations and serving as a key fundraiser for some of the department's biggest projects.
"Dusty's experience managing department-wide fundraising at the Power Five level, including closing major gifts and involvement with large capital campaigns, is a perfect fit to lead our Golden Gopher Fund," said Athletics Director Mark Coyle. "Dusty is someone who has worked at almost every level of a collegiate athletics department during his career, and he has excelled in each position. I know Dusty will continue to exceed expectations and deliver great results now that he's joining us at Minnesota."
Clements brings more than two decades of experience in collegiate athletics with him to the Twin Cities. Since his career in athletics began as a student worker, and then a graduate assistant, at the University of Wyoming, Clements served stints with the Big Sky Conference and in the fundraising office at his alma mater. He took over the annual fund for the University of Oklahoma's athletic department in 2007.
During his seven years at Oklahoma, Clements rose to the position of assistant athletics director of development. While working for the Sooners, Clements helped the development team set new department records for money raised and number of donors to the annual fund in 2014. That record number for dollars raised represented a 31-percent increase in annual giving from when Clements came to Oklahoma in 2007.
Clements helped close major gifts for baseball, softball, women's basketball and football while with the Sooners' development team. He was also a key contact in the $35 million Headington Hall housing facility campaign and the launch of the department's $160 million campaign to renovate Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
In October 2014, Clements was honored by Oklahoma as the athletic department's Inspiring Champions Award Winner, given in recognition of a staff member who exemplifies the mission and values of the department and University.
Clements comes to Minnesota from Boise State, where he has served as the Broncos' senior associate athletics director for external operations since January 2016, overseeing fundraising, ticket operations and sales, marketing and media relations. Clements first served as associate athletics director of development at Boise State beginning in January 2015, a position he assumed following his time at Oklahoma. In his first year at Boise State, scholarship support generated by the Bronco Athletic Association increased by more than $500,000 year-over-year, a 13-percent jump.
Clements holds a bachelor's in journalism from the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1998. He also holds a master's in communication from Wyoming.
