Boosters hire Alford to lead fundraising for FSU athletics

The Seminole Boosters have tabbed Central Michigan athletics director Mike Alford to be the organization’s new CEO. Alford will be in charge of fundraising for Florida State’s athletic department.

“We are excited to welcome Michael Alford to the FSU family,” FSU president John Thrasher said in a news release. “As a former student-athlete and a respected leader who has held positions in both Division I athletics and the NFL, Michael brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to the Seminole Boosters. He has a strong vision for fundraising and membership, and that will build on our culture of excellence and lead us into the future.”

The hire comes at a critical time for the Seminoles, who announced last week they slashed their athletics budget by 20% by laying off 25 employees, reducing salaries for all remaining employees and taking other cost-cutting measures.

FSU athletics director David Coburn, football coach Mike Norvell, men’s basketball coach Leonard Hamilton and women’s basketball coach Sue Semrau all volunteered to take pay cuts ranging from about 25% to 15%.

In a letter to staff explaining the reductions, Coburn said FSU was coping with declines in football season-ticket sales and donations to the Seminole Boosters’ annual fund as well as the expenses surrounding replacing the football coaching staff.

Alford, 51, spent the past three seasons at Central Michigan, where he helped spearhead record-setting fundraising efforts for the athletics department and also hired former UF coach Jim McElwain to lead the

CMU football program. Alford’s work helped fund construction of the Chippewa Champions Center, which houses the football operations, strength and conditioning and sports medicine staffs. Alford also negotiated a new apparel deal for the school that resulted in a 600% increase in revenue for the 2018-19 season.

“The CEO search committee completed a six-month search process, and yesterday our executive committee approved Michael Alford as our next CEO,” said Bob Davis, chair of the Seminole Boosters, Inc., board of directors. “Michael has worked for some of the top sports programs in the country, both professional and collegiate. He is an incredibly successful fundraiser and brings experience as an athletic director, which will make our relationship with athletics through the FSUAA even stronger and will benefit both organizations.”

Before his stint at CMU, Alford worked at the University of Oklahoma, where he helped coordinate efforts for a $160 million end zone facility project as well as a $7 million basketball performance center that opened in 2018.

He also worked at Alabama, Cincinnati and USC, as well as ESPN, during his career.

“Though bittersweet because of the great leadership and relationships we have built here at Central Michigan, Laura and I could not be more enthusiastic about joining the FSU community,” said Alford, whose wife, Laura, is a former volleyball player and coach. “To lead the premier fundraising organization in college sports was an opportunity that excited me professionally.”