University of Central Missouri Athletics

Matt Howdeshell joined the University of Central Missouri as its Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics June 2023. At his introductory press conference, Howdeshell stated, “Central Missouri Athletics has a storied tradition, one that we will continue to shape as we honor the past and build the future through work ethic, innovative spirit and a team mindset.”

In Howdeshell’s brief tenure, he has put UCM Athletics on a positive, upward trajectory.

Notable highlights during his first year in 2023-24 include:

• Shared Vision for the Future: To ensure alignment with university initiatives and shape the vision, mission, values, goals and objectives of the athletic department for the foreseeable future, Howdeshell engaged a broad range of stakeholders in a strategic planning process to create a comprehensive plan to guide the Mules & Jennies over the next five years. During this same period, a long-term athletics master facility planning process was completed, identifying facility needs, priorities, and capital fundraising objectives.
• Student-Athlete Experience: Prioritizing student-athlete’s mental and physical well-being Howdeshell oversaw many student-athlete wellness initiatives including: Launching UCM’s co-branded Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) marketplace with Opendorse, the first fee-free NIL marketplace in NCAA D-II, and utilized Opendorse’s student-athlete educational training; Establishing UCM’s NIL student-athlete apparel marketplace with INFLUXER; Overseeing the creation of UCM’s student-athlete nutrition program; and empowering the creation and hiring of a mental health professional dedicated to UCM student-athletes.
• Athletic Excellence: In his first year, 12 Central Missouri teams made NCAA-II postseason appearances, and UCM captured three MIAA Regular Season Championships, two MIAA Postseason Tournament Titles, and one NCAA Division II Regional Championship. In addition, UCM Athletics finished in 17th-place in the final LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings, marking the 18th straight year UCM has placed in the top-30 of the final standings. Central Missouri had 80 student-athletes earn All-MIAA accolades and 26 secure All-America honors. Mules football quarterback Zach Zebrowski won the 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy, which is presented to the top player in NCAA Division II Football.
• Academic Achievements: UCM also excelled in the classroom in Howdeshell’s inaugural year in Warrensburg as over 260 Mules and Jennies earned MIAA Academic Honor Roll recognition.
• Facilities:  In an effort to provide top-tier facilities to student-athletes, this year saw the completion of several significant facilities upgrades including the construction of the Harbert Collegiate Golf Center for both Mules and Jennies golf, extensive renovations to the Terry Noland Football Offices, and the Multipurpose Building was officially renamed to the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in honor of the late Jerry Hughes, former Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. In addition, UCM’s first-ever student-athlete fueling station was constructed, providing daily nutritional support to all 500+ student-athletes.
• Revenue Generation: UCM Athletics annual fundraising arm was rebranded to the Cardinal & Black Fund, leading to record membership, and quadrupling giving at the highest level. Howdeshell negotiated a five-year apparel contract extension with BSN/Nike making it the most lucrative apparel contract in the MIAA. Additionally, sponsorship revenue grew by 19% and ticket sales revenue grew by 26%. In addition, Taymar Sales U was incorporated to assist UCM with maximizing corporate partnership and ticket sales revenue, while enhancing UCM’s visibility and branding.
• Fan Experience: Striving to create an experience fans want to be a part of, Howdeshell oversaw several gameday experience enhancements including implementing alcohol sales at athletic events with the establishment of the Michelob Ultra Mule Zone and the Phantom V Courtside Club. Attendance rose 22%, highlighted by football attendance increasing 34% and volleyball setting a single game attendance record. During the 2023-2024 athletic season, UCM led the MIAA Network in total views.
• Community Engagement: 2023 marked the 32nd year of the “Literacy Team” program, started by the late Jerry Hughes. More than 200 student-athletes (the most ever) read books to students at four Warrensburg elementary schools, gifting 81 new books to the schools’ libraries. Howdeshell himself is also an active member of the Warrensburg Community serving on the Warrensburg Military Affairs Committee and is an active member at Sacred Heart Parish.

Howdeshell serves on the MIAA Network Task Force and is the MIAA representative on the NACDA DII Athletic Directors Association Board of Directors. Howdeshell was also chosen as the NCAA DII Athletic Director’s Association 2023-2024 leadership development grant recipient.

Prior to arriving at Central Missouri, Howdeshell had an impressive 12+ year tenure at Northern Arizona University where he had been part of an athletic program that won 83 conference championships, over 100 post-season appearances, six national championships, numerous coach-of-the-year recipients, and a multitude of academic and athletic all-conference honorees.

During his stint at Northern Arizona, Howdeshell oversaw all aspects of a $25 million operating budget, led $60 million of capital projects, coordinated capital fundraising efforts, served as the sport administrator for football, and supervised the athletics business office, strength and conditioning and video staffs.

Howdeshell, who hails from Cuba, Mo., also has a proven ability to generate revenue beyond traditional fundraising. He worked collaboratively with student and university leadership to pass NAU’s first-ever athletic student fee, generating more than $3.1 million in incremental revenue its first year. Howdeshell also helped secure the renewal of the department’s apparel contract, the largest in the Big Sky Conference at the time, and NAU’s first-ever multimedia rights partnership with Learfield, which has enhanced NAU Athletics’ visibility, branding, and corporate sponsorship revenue.

In addition, he spearheaded several strategic financial initiatives and was involved in many student-athlete welfare projects relating to gender equity and the student-athlete experience.
Howdeshell previously served NAU as the Associate Athletic Director for Administration and Capital Projects, Assistant Athletic Director for Administration, and as the Director of Football Operations. He began his athletics career as a student manager and video coordinator at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.

The son of two first-generation, non-traditional college students, Howdeshell earned a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State in history education (2010), and a master’s degree in educational leadership (2013) and Doctor of Educational Leadership (2020), with distinction, from NAU.

Howdeshell and his wife, Hiliary, have three sons: Peter, Benjamin, and Max.