Athletics: Duane Bailey Joins Louisiana Leadership Team as Deputy AD & Chief Financial Officer

College athletics administrative veteran of more than 12 years tabbed as Deputy AD/CFO for Louisiana 

LAFAYETTE – Duane Bailey, whose career in athletics administration has spanned the Big East Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference and National Football League, has been selected by Director of Athletics Bryan Maggard to join Louisiana’s senior leadership in the role of Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Financial Officer.
 
Bailey recently previously served for seven years in the same capacity at Seton Hall, aiding the Pirates in their collaboration with the university on financial planning, overseeing departmental external relations, compliance and risk management and working directly as a sport program administration with the school’s basketball and women’s volleyball programs.
 
"We are extremely excited to have Duane, Gale and Ava join the Ragin’ Cajuns Family," Maggard said. "His experiences will be a great asset to our department, and we look forward to the leadership he will provide."
 
Bailey oversaw $39 million worth of construction and renovations of Seton Hall’s athletic facilities, as well as negotiated the Pirates’ all-sport apparel agreement. He was also involved in the funding and planning of Seton Hall’s student-athlete life skills programming.
 
"I’m excited and thankful to Dr. Maggard and President Savoie for the opportunity to join a school and athletics program known across the country for its passionate fan base and vibrant culture," Bailey said. "I’m looking forward to getting to work and helping our student-athletes and coaches compete for and win championships. Most of all, Gale, Ava and myself are thrilled to be a part of the Lafayette community."
 
Prior to his arrival in South Orange, New Jersey, Bailey worked down the turnpike with the Atlantic 10 Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Associate Commissioner and Chief Financial Officer for two years. He managed all facets of the conference office’s financial and business operations, which included the guidance of a $7 million operating budget and the negotiation of conference sponsorship agreements.
 
After Seton Hall, Bailey stepped into the chair of Director of Athletics and Recreational Services for the New York Institute of Technology (2015-17), overseeing an athletics program in Old Westbury, New York, with 13 varsity sport programs, seven club sports, 240 student-athletes and 50 staff members and coaches. Academic achievement has been a hallmark of Bailey’s many focuses, as the school’s student-athletes achieved a departmental 3.0 grade point average.
 
Following NYIT, Bailey assumed the same role for New Haven (2017-18), overseeing an athletics program with 17 varsity sports, 12 club sports, 350 student-athletes and more than 80 staff members and coaches. New Haven had 16 programs exceed NCAA Academic Success Rate standards during his tenure, Bailey also was heavily involved in fundraising efforts for football stadium improvements on campus in West Haven, Connecticut.
 
Bailey worked behind the scenes in the NFL for 10 years, first serving the league office as a salary cap analyst and labor operations coordinator in New York City before joining the Kansas City Chiefs as Manager of Player Compensation. His role with the Chiefs included the design and management of an $80 million operating budget, as well as the negotiation of player contracts and coordination of stadium renovations.
 
An alum of St. John’s with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance in 1994, Bailey continued his education at both Adelphi and Long Island University, earning Master’s degrees in Athletic Administration (1996) and Business Administration (1998), respectively.
 
Bailey has been a longtime member of numerous professional development organizations, including NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) since 2007 and CABMA (College Athletic Business Management Association) from 2007-12.
 
Bailey is married to the former Gale Divins, also a graduate of St. John’s, and the two have one daughter, Ava.
 
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