51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó President Neal Smatresk today announced the appointment of Tina Kunzer-Murphy as interim athletic director effective July 1, 2013.
"Tina Kunzer-Murphy has agreed to step into the role of interim athletic director on the heels of Jim Livengood's retirement," said 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó President Neal Smatresk. "Tina brings a wealth of experience to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó and I am truly grateful that she will be serving in this critical role."
Kunzer-Murphy has been serving as director of alumni sponsorship and development for the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó Alumni Relations department since January 2013.
Previously Kunzer-Murphy spent twelve years as the executive director of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÃâ·ÑApp Bowl for ESPN Regional Television Inc. Prior to her work with the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÃâ·ÑApp Bowl, she was the general manager for the ESPN Regional Institution Project for 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó's department of intercollegiate athletics (2000-2005).
Kunzer-Murphy served as the senior associate athletic director at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA (1992-1993). Before that she served in progressively responsible roles within 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó's intercollegiate athletics department for 15 years (1977-1992), from head women's tennis coach and senior assistant athletic director.
Kunzer-Murphy has experience with compliance in university, conference and NCAA regulations, as well as day-to-day operations for athletics. She managed the Western Athletic Conference football championship and basketball tournaments for 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÃâ·ÑApp Events, Inc. and the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÃâ·ÑApp Convention & Visitors Authority. A 2007 inductee of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, Kunzer-Murphy became the first woman to serve as chairman of the Football Bowl Association. In the summer of 2011, she was honored as 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÃâ·ÑApp' Sportsperson of the Year. She was recognized by the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÃâ·ÑApp Sun as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Sports Professionals in Nevada in 2008.
Kunzer-Murphy earned a bachelor of science in physical education and a master of education in secondary education from 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÍòÄÜ¿Æ´ó.
