Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Staff Directory
De León, Lee
Lee De León
- Title:
- Deputy AD/Chief Revenue Officer
- Email:
- Phone:
- 898-5563
Updated July 2024
Lee De León, a veteran in athletic development and external affairs, joined Middle Tennessee in 2021 as Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs.
De León (pronounced DAY LEE ON) made his way to Murfreesboro after spending the previous two and a half years at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the role of Executive Director of the RCAF and Deputy Director of Athletics. Under De León’s leadership, the RCAF raised over $42 million since he arrived in July 2019.
De León works in collaboration with University Advancement, the BRAA Board of Directors and the Department of Athletics in providing leadership and guidance to the BRAA’s donor cultivation, major gift planning, premium seating and capital campaign coordination. He oversees, directs, and manages all aspects of the external units of the athletics department, including Development, Sponsorships, Marketing, Licensing, Ticket Sales and NIL. De León also serves as a member of the athletic department's executive leadership team and provides oversight of the Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Men’s and Women’s Golf programs, while assisting Director of Athletics Chris Massaro with football and men’s basketball.
Formerly the athletics director at Abilene Christian from 2014-18, De León's career in college athletics features notable stops at Purdue (2018-19), New Mexico (2011-2014), Arizona (2008-11) and Houston (2005-2008). At the time of his appointment at ACU, De León was the youngest Division I athletics director in the country.
Under De León's watch, Abilene Christian successfully completed its transition from Division II to Division I and built a state-of-the-art, $50 million on-campus football stadium. In four seasons at ACU, annual revenue for athletics grew by 81 percent, which allowed for a nearly 40 percent increase in the organization's operating budget. Securing multi-year contracts with Nike and IMG, as well as the creation of the Wildcat Club, the official fundraising organization of ACU Athletics, made the tremendous growth possible. In its initial year, the Wildcat Club raised more than $6.25 million through annual fund, capital gifts, endowments and sport-specific donations.
Previously, De León served as executive senior associate athletics director/assistant vice president for development at Purdue, where he managed day-to-day operations of the John Purdue Club, which is responsible for the fundraising efforts that supported the Boilermakers' 500 student-athletes.
From 2011 to 2014, De León was the associate director of athletics for development at New Mexico. He also served as the executive director of the Lobo Club, UNM's official fundraising organization for athletics that raises funds for all Lobo teams, programs and student-athletes. Prior to New Mexico, De León worked three years (2008-11) at Arizona, first as the director of annual giving before earning a promotion to assistant athletics director for major gifts and annual giving.
Before his time at New Mexico and Arizona, De León spent three years (2005-08) at Houston as assistant director of marketing and director of marketing. De León began his career in college athletics at LSU in 2005 as a marketing assistant.
A native of Houston, De León earned a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and a Master's degree in sport management from Texas A&M University in 2005. He and his wife, Lacey, have two sons, Landon and Luke.
Lee De León, a veteran in athletic development and external affairs, joined Middle Tennessee in 2021 as Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs.
De León (pronounced DAY LEE ON) made his way to Murfreesboro after spending the previous two and a half years at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the role of Executive Director of the RCAF and Deputy Director of Athletics. Under De León’s leadership, the RCAF raised over $42 million since he arrived in July 2019.
De León works in collaboration with University Advancement, the BRAA Board of Directors and the Department of Athletics in providing leadership and guidance to the BRAA’s donor cultivation, major gift planning, premium seating and capital campaign coordination. He oversees, directs, and manages all aspects of the external units of the athletics department, including Development, Sponsorships, Marketing, Licensing, Ticket Sales and NIL. De León also serves as a member of the athletic department's executive leadership team and provides oversight of the Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Men’s and Women’s Golf programs, while assisting Director of Athletics Chris Massaro with football and men’s basketball.
Formerly the athletics director at Abilene Christian from 2014-18, De León's career in college athletics features notable stops at Purdue (2018-19), New Mexico (2011-2014), Arizona (2008-11) and Houston (2005-2008). At the time of his appointment at ACU, De León was the youngest Division I athletics director in the country.
Under De León's watch, Abilene Christian successfully completed its transition from Division II to Division I and built a state-of-the-art, $50 million on-campus football stadium. In four seasons at ACU, annual revenue for athletics grew by 81 percent, which allowed for a nearly 40 percent increase in the organization's operating budget. Securing multi-year contracts with Nike and IMG, as well as the creation of the Wildcat Club, the official fundraising organization of ACU Athletics, made the tremendous growth possible. In its initial year, the Wildcat Club raised more than $6.25 million through annual fund, capital gifts, endowments and sport-specific donations.
Previously, De León served as executive senior associate athletics director/assistant vice president for development at Purdue, where he managed day-to-day operations of the John Purdue Club, which is responsible for the fundraising efforts that supported the Boilermakers' 500 student-athletes.
From 2011 to 2014, De León was the associate director of athletics for development at New Mexico. He also served as the executive director of the Lobo Club, UNM's official fundraising organization for athletics that raises funds for all Lobo teams, programs and student-athletes. Prior to New Mexico, De León worked three years (2008-11) at Arizona, first as the director of annual giving before earning a promotion to assistant athletics director for major gifts and annual giving.
Before his time at New Mexico and Arizona, De León spent three years (2005-08) at Houston as assistant director of marketing and director of marketing. De León began his career in college athletics at LSU in 2005 as a marketing assistant.
A native of Houston, De León earned a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and a Master's degree in sport management from Texas A&M University in 2005. He and his wife, Lacey, have two sons, Landon and Luke.
MTSU Football at Nevada highlights – 9/13/25
Sunday, September 14
MTSU Football at Nevada post-game press conference – 9/13/25
Saturday, September 13
MTSU Football Postgame Press Conference @ Nevada on 09-13-25
Saturday, September 13
Raider Report Week 3 - MTSU vs. University of Nevada
Friday, September 12
