MTSU Athletics welcomes three new leaders to external affairs team

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee Athletics has announced three additions to its External Affairs team: Darryl Keckler as Associate Athletic Director for Development, Christopher Hill as General Manager for Van Wagner, and Kayla Stiles as Director of Ticket Sales.

Keckler, Hill, and Stiles bring extensive experience in collegiate athletics, sales, sponsorship, and fundraising. Together, they will play pivotal roles in driving revenue growth, strengthening community engagement, and enhancing the overall experience for Blue Raider fans, alumni, and supporters.

"We are very excited about these outstanding additions to our External Affairs team," said Lee De Leon, Deputy AD. "Kayla, Christopher, and Darryl are talented revenue generators who will make an immediate impact by getting connected in our community and building genuine relationships."

About the New Hires:

Darryl Keckler – Associate Athletic Director for Development
Keckler joins MTSU after a distinguished career in athletic administration and coaching, including 14 years at Drew University as Associate Director of Athletics, where he launched donor clubs, fundraising events, and new sports programs. Most recently the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Moravian University, he led program fundraising, donor communications, and community engagement. He is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene (B.S.) and McDaniel College (M.S.).
Christopher Hill – General Manager, Van Wagner
Hill brings more than 20 years of experience in sports business, sponsorships, and revenue generation. He most recently led sponsorship sales with the United Football League and hospitality operations with REVELxp, managing major partnerships with Baylor, Texas A&M, and the 12th Man Foundation. Previously, he served as President of the Sugar Land Skeeters, securing multimillion-dollar sponsorships and naming rights.
Kayla Stiles – Director of Ticket Sales
Stiles most recently served as Manager of Premium Sales for Vanderbilt Athletics with LEARFIELD Amplify, where she grew a client base of 400+ accounts and generated more than $680,000 in revenue in under a year. She previously worked in ticketing at Nashville Superspeedway and Dover Motor Speedway, producing over $1 million in sales, and is a two-time graduate of MTSU (B.S. and M.S.).

These hires reflect MTSU's continued commitment to building a best-in-class External Affairs unit that prioritizes relationship-building, innovative revenue generation, and a first-class fan experience.

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics

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