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UC Riverside Athletics Director Wesley Mallette Named Deputy AD/Chief Marketing Officer at University of South Carolina

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Wesley Mallette has been named the Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Marketing Officer at the University of South Carolina, concluding a transformative seven-plus year tenure leading UC Riverside Athletics.

Mallette, who took the helm as AD in 2021 after previously serving as interim director and Chief of Staff and Senior Associate Athletics Director, External Relations, helped guide UC Riverside Athletics through one of the most challenging and defining periods in its history. His leadership was instrumental in preserving the university's Division I program in 2021 and in building a foundation of excellence centered on student-athlete success, competitive growth, and campus alignment.

His departure marks the end of one of the most pivotal leadership chapters in the history of UC Riverside Athletics.

"This has been the honor of a lifetime," Mallette said. "UC Riverside is a special place, and I will always be proud of what we accomplished together. Our student-athletes, coaches, and staff showed what is possible when you lead with purpose, care deeply, and stay focused on doing things the right way. I am grateful to Chancellor Kim Wilcox, and our campus community for their trust and partnership. Under the leadership and guidance of Chancellor S. Jack Hu, UCR Athletics is poised for great things ahead and the program has an opportunity to soar with the continue to excel academically, athletically, and in the community."

Among the highlights of Mallette's tenure:
  • Competitive Excellence: UCR captured Big West championships in Men's Soccer, Women's and Men's Track & Field, and Cross Country. Women's Basketball and Women's Golf experienced historic turnarounds with WNIT and NCAA Championship appearances, and Men's Basketball reached new heights under Head Coach Mike Magpayo, including back-to-back 20-win seasons, Power 4 victories, and the program's first Division I postseason appearance in the NIT.
  • Academic Success: Student-athletes achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.22, with 10 programs earning perfect NCAA APR scores this past year. The department's projected Graduation Success Rate reached a record 92 percent.
  • Student-Athlete Well-Being: Mallette expanded mental health and sports medicine staffing, developed partnerships with campus health services, enhanced career and leadership development, and prioritized support services aligned with UCR's strategic priorities.
  • Strategic Growth: He secured a five-year Nike/BSN apparel deal, strengthened the department's multimedia rights partnership, and cultivated stronger ties with the UC Riverside Foundation Board and donors. He also aligned the department's strategic plan with UCR's institutional goals and deepened collaboration with Student Affairs, Health Well-being and Safety, and academic departments across campus.
At South Carolina, Mallette will serve on the senior leadership team under Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati and bring his three decades of experience in all aspects of intercollegiate athletics, external relations, marketing, branding, content creation, communications and the new NIL space to Gamecock Athletics.

For media inquiries, please contact Chelsea Pfohl at chelsea.pfohl@ucr.edu.