Rick Thorpe joined Razorback Athletics as the deputy athletics director of external engagement in February 2019. Prior to that time, Thorpe served as the senior associate athletics director for external affairs and strategic communications at Rutgers University.
As a member of the Razorback Athletic Director’s Cabinet, sports administrator group and bowl management committee, Thorpe assists the vice chancellor in the daily administration of the department. He is responsible for revenue generation and oversees all external units within the Department of Athletics including; Marketing and Promotions, Tickets Sales, Digital and Creative Services, Branding, Licensing, Community Engagement, Communications, Multi-Media Rights, Broadcast Services and serves as the liaison to the Razorback Foundation for fundraising. Thorpe also serves as the sport administrator for football, men’s tennis and women’s tennis.
Thorpe worked at a variety of institutions prior to Arkansas, spanning over 20 years at many of the nation’s leading collegiate conferences. In addition to Rutgers, Thorpe has served at Georgia Tech, Connecticut, UCLA and Vanderbilt. Additionally, Thorpe worked in professional sports as vice president of tournament business affairs while at The PGA Tour for six years.
A graduate of Penn State University, Thorpe and his wife, Andrea, have one son, Oakley.
