Paulus Set to Lead 'Cuse Athletic Development
7/29/2021 8:56:00 AM | General
Syracuse native Michael Paulus, Ph.D. is returning to Central New York to join Syracuse University Athletics as the senior associate athletics director/executive director of athletic development. Paulus brings 10 years of collegiate athletics development experience to his new role with the Orange Club.
"Michael's positive leadership, experience with athletics fundraising and directing an effective fundraising team, and his passion for Syracuse University Athletics, stand out," said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. "The addition of Michael to our athletics department staff will add more capacity to the athletics advancement team and help make a good team even better. We welcome Michael and his wife, Lindsay, to the Orange family."
Paulus comes to Syracuse after serving in the same role at U.S. Naval Academy since 2018. As a member of the Athletic Director's executive staff, he partnered with the Naval Academy Foundation and Athletic & Scholarship Programs division to lead fundraising efforts supporting Navy Athletics. In three years at Navy, the development team achieved record levels of annual and major gift support, most notably increasing unrestricted giving by 35 percent and also surpassing $110 million raised for athletics as part of the Academy's "Called to Serve, Daring to Lead" campaign. The $110 million exceeded the original campaign goal of $70 million set for athletics and resulted in numerous capital renovations and improvements to facilities benefiting Navy Athletics. Paulus was also a sport supervisor for four varsity programs at Navy.
"I want to thank John Wildhack, Matt Ter Molen, and Sean Scanlon for this opportunity," Paulus said. "To serve Syracuse University and the athletics department in this capacity is extraordinarily meaningful, and I look forward to partnering with our coaches, staff and external teams to engage the Orange family in providing a world-class experience for our student-athletes."
Prior to his time at the Naval Academy, Paulus was the assistant athletics director for development at the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation from 2015 to 2018. In that capacity, he was a lead fundraiser for Ole Miss Athletics and the "Forward Together" campaign, a $200 million capital initiative that resulted in a new basketball arena, expansion to the football stadium, and renovations and improvements benefiting all Olympic sports facilities. Paulus was part of a development team that produced several of the top fundraising years in Ole Miss Athletics history, including the best one-year fundraising effort in department history, raising $45.6 million in cash donations.
Paulus began his career in athletics development at Mount St. Mary's University (2013-15) and Virginia Commonwealth University (2012-13). At Mount St. Mary's, he oversaw all fundraising for the Mount's 16 division I programs. In consecutive years, the Mount Club achieved record levels of fundraising, as well as the completion of multiple donor-funded capital projects for improved facilities. At Virginia Commonwealth, he was a graduate assistant in the athletics department and was promoted to Director of the Ram Athletic Fund, where he managed the annual giving and premium seating programs for VCU Athletics.
A graduate of the College of William & Mary, Paulus played quarterback for the Tribe in 2010 and 2011 after playing the same position at the University of North Carolina for three years. He earned his Master of Education in sport leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MBA from Mount St. Mary's, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Ole Miss.
"Michael's positive leadership, experience with athletics fundraising and directing an effective fundraising team, and his passion for Syracuse University Athletics, stand out," said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. "The addition of Michael to our athletics department staff will add more capacity to the athletics advancement team and help make a good team even better. We welcome Michael and his wife, Lindsay, to the Orange family."
Paulus comes to Syracuse after serving in the same role at U.S. Naval Academy since 2018. As a member of the Athletic Director's executive staff, he partnered with the Naval Academy Foundation and Athletic & Scholarship Programs division to lead fundraising efforts supporting Navy Athletics. In three years at Navy, the development team achieved record levels of annual and major gift support, most notably increasing unrestricted giving by 35 percent and also surpassing $110 million raised for athletics as part of the Academy's "Called to Serve, Daring to Lead" campaign. The $110 million exceeded the original campaign goal of $70 million set for athletics and resulted in numerous capital renovations and improvements to facilities benefiting Navy Athletics. Paulus was also a sport supervisor for four varsity programs at Navy.
"I want to thank John Wildhack, Matt Ter Molen, and Sean Scanlon for this opportunity," Paulus said. "To serve Syracuse University and the athletics department in this capacity is extraordinarily meaningful, and I look forward to partnering with our coaches, staff and external teams to engage the Orange family in providing a world-class experience for our student-athletes."
Prior to his time at the Naval Academy, Paulus was the assistant athletics director for development at the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation from 2015 to 2018. In that capacity, he was a lead fundraiser for Ole Miss Athletics and the "Forward Together" campaign, a $200 million capital initiative that resulted in a new basketball arena, expansion to the football stadium, and renovations and improvements benefiting all Olympic sports facilities. Paulus was part of a development team that produced several of the top fundraising years in Ole Miss Athletics history, including the best one-year fundraising effort in department history, raising $45.6 million in cash donations.
Paulus began his career in athletics development at Mount St. Mary's University (2013-15) and Virginia Commonwealth University (2012-13). At Mount St. Mary's, he oversaw all fundraising for the Mount's 16 division I programs. In consecutive years, the Mount Club achieved record levels of fundraising, as well as the completion of multiple donor-funded capital projects for improved facilities. At Virginia Commonwealth, he was a graduate assistant in the athletics department and was promoted to Director of the Ram Athletic Fund, where he managed the annual giving and premium seating programs for VCU Athletics.
A graduate of the College of William & Mary, Paulus played quarterback for the Tribe in 2010 and 2011 after playing the same position at the University of North Carolina for three years. He earned his Master of Education in sport leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MBA from Mount St. Mary's, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Ole Miss.
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