Padraic McMeel (first name pronounced PAD-rick) has joined the intercollegiate athletics administrative staff at Missouri State University as Assistant Director of Athletics for External Affairs.

McMeel has begun his new duties at Missouri State as he replaces Brent Dunn in intercollegiate athletics. Dunn was named Vice President for University Advancement at Missouri State in October, 2007.

In his new post at Missouri State, McMeel reports to Director of Athletics Bill Rowe with duties including overseeing implementation of the seat selection program for JQH Arena as Missouri State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams begin play in the new facility at the start of the 2008-09 season. McMeel will also direct the efforts of the staff of Corporate Relations and Marketing for Bears athletics.

McMeel comes to Springfield from a post as Associate Director of the Golden Knights Club (GKC) and Director of Premium Seating at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. In that job, he was responsible for the sale of 21 suites and 822 club seats at the UCF football stadium and 16 suites, 64 loge seats and 500 club seats at the UCF basketball arena with the total sale in those two facilities generating an annual revenue of $2.6 million. He also assisted with GKC annual giving, through which over 4,000 donors contributed $2.7 million in 2006. He spent a year as assistant director of GKC in 2005-06 before becoming associate director in 2006.

Previous athletics-related positions McMeel has held include Development Director for Special Olympics Michigan in 2004-05, Director of Athletic Development at Illinois State University in 2000-03, Sports Sales Specialist and later Associate Sales Manager of Walt Disney World Sports Attractions in 1998-00, Director of Athletics and Plant Services for Memphis (Mich.) Community Schools in 1996-97, Membership/Convention Coordinator of American Baseball Coaches Association in 1994-96, marketing and promotions assistant in athletics at Central Michigan University in 1993-94.

McMeel earned his undergraduate degree in sport administration from Central Michigan in 1994 and received his master’s degree from CMU in athletic administration in 2005.