Hofstetter promoted to Senior Associate AD

CINCINNATI – Athletics Director of the University of Cincinnati John Cunningham announced the promotion on Tuesday Ben Hofstetter to Senior Associate Athletics Director, Digital & Strategic Engagement.

Hofstetter will join Cunningham’s senior management team and continue to oversee The Agency, a team of 11 full-time employees who oversee the department’s digital, social, creative, brand and sports communications.

“Ben has been an essential member of our Athletic Department team for a number of years and I am pleased that he is joining our senior management team and continuing to lead The Agency,” said Cunningham. “Under Ben’s leadership, our creative, digital and communications teams have produced engaging content for our fans and student athletes, increased visibility of the Cincinnati Bearcats brand and developed revenue generation strategies. He deserves this opportunity and I look forward to seeing what bold ideas he will implement next.”

Under Hofstetter, The Agency has led responsibility for Sell & Story Tell, a pillar of Cunningham’s Next Level Success roadmap. For the past 18 months, UC has committed to telling its story in new, unique ways to sell tickets, increase revenue and advance the Bearcats brand nationwide.

Under Hofstetter’s leadership, The Agency produced award-winning and groundbreaking content in 2021-22. @GoBearcats, UC’s athletic division’s main social media account, ranked #1 nationwide for Twitter engagement and Instagram growth, while GoBearcats.com traffic has grown 193% in a year. The agency-produced digital series Let It Fly was nominated for an Emmy, while media mentions for the 2021 football season brought in more than $2.5 billion in ad value.

Additionally, Hofstetter leads brand messaging and strategy with university and conference partners, including leading UC’s efforts to join the Big 12 while working with the American Athletic Conference for their soccer championship game and the college football playoffs in 2021.

Hofstetter led preparations for ESPN College GameDay’s first-ever appearance on the UC campus. More than two million viewers watched the show, which essentially served as a three-hour commercial for the University of Cincinnati and the Department of Athletics.

Season tickets also sold out that summer for the first time in school history.

Hofstetter was promoted to head of The Agency in 2021 after excelling in his role as Associate AD, Digital from 2019-2021. He has led the department’s digital, design and storytelling initiatives across all 18 programs for more than three years.

“Ben is an innovator, strategic thinker and leader in the creative and digital space,” said Anthony DiFino, Deputy AD, External. “He is a problem solver who brings out the best in those who work with him. Over the past year, Ben has worn many hats. He was instrumental in the planning and execution of ESPN College GameDay, the College Football Playoffs and the successful Throwback men’s basketball game, among countless initiatives.”

Hofstetter joined the University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics in 2017 as an Associate AD, Strategic Initiatives, working directly with the Director of Athletics on special projects, including a key role in the 2018 Fifth Third Arena renovation project, where he led a multi-channel marketing campaign for the new venue amenities, seating, sponsorship and naming opportunities. The campaign culminated in back-to-back men’s basketball season ticket sales in 2018-19 and 2019-20, the first two seasons at the renovated arena before capacity restrictions were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also led the implementation of Salesforce, the department’s first customer relationship management system.

Hofstetter began his career in 2008 at the University of Cincinnati. Before joining the Department of Athletics, he served as a Special Assistant/Digital Media in the Office of the President of the University of Cincinnati from 2012-2017. He oversaw the office’s digital communications, including university websites and social media accounts. He founded then-President Santa Ono’s @PrezOno Twitter account as a leader in high-level social media. Hofstetter earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Electronic Media with a minor in Marketing from the University of Dayton.

The lifelong Bearcats fan and his wife Dr. Colleen lives in Cincinnati with their three children, Matthew, Mitchell, and Mia.



ABOUT CINCINNATI ATHLETICS
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with a vision to achieve Next level success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud track and field history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men’s basketball team is among the top 15 programs of all time, while the 2021 football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to make the college football playoffs. Volleyball player Jordan Thompson, Olympic gold medalist, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries to compete as the Bearcats.


UC student-athletes combined earned an overall GPA of 3,369 in Spring 2021, with 77 percent earning honors roll spots, while six student-athletes earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.


Under the direction of the sports director John Cunninghamand supported by more than 150 full-time employees, UC Athletics’ mission is associate our community, extend our university and A hit the lives of student athletes preparing to change the world on and off the court.


Visit gobearcats.com for more information.



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