Athletics
Director of Athletics
Office: 615-898-2452
Fax: 615-898-2777
Email: cmassaro@mtsu.edu
Mailing Address:
Box 77
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Chris Massaro, who spent 20 years at the University of South Carolina, was named the sixth director of athletics in school history on April 8, 2005. In a short time, Massaro has made a huge impact by hiring a new head football coach, completing a $5 million capital campaign for the new baseball stadium, initiating a series of major renovations to existing athletic facilities, and drastically improving the departments APR.
The APR improvement did not go unnoticed. Massaro was appointed to a panel on APR Improvement Plans for the 2008 NCAA Convention after the Blue Raiders went from a 908 when he arrived to an impressive jump to 936 following the 2006-07 year. A big reason for the improvement was the football program going from a nation low 812 to a 901 during that span.
On December 12, 2005, Massaro made his highest profile hire when he selected Rick Stockstill to take over the football program. Stockstill became just the second head coach in the I-A era at Middle Tennessee and in his first season led the Blue Raiders to a league championship and their first bowl appearance in the I-A era.
There was little time for Massaro to take a break from the rigors of the previous hectic months because in February 2006, still less than a year from his hiring date, the ambitious administrator unveiled the first capital campaign for Blue Raider athletics. This vigorous campaign is leading to a multimillion dollar renovation to Reese Smith Field, home of the Blue Raider baseball team, which began in the summer of 2007 and will provide an opportunity for economic impact and national exposure, giving Middle Tennessee the possibility of hosting national tournaments.
Another lucrative agreement to benefit the Blue Raider athletics department was reached when Massaro and President Sidney McPhee worked extensively with the city of Murfreesboro to secure a $5.5 million gift to improve the soccer and track complex and assist with the renovation of the baseball stadium.
Shortly after unveiling the capital campaign, Massaro made another major announcement involving the future of Blue Raider football at the 2006 Blue-White Spring Game. Massaro announced that generous contributions had made it possible to install a new synthetic surface in Floyd Stadium for the 2006 season. Massaro came back at the 2007 Spring Game to announce that new videoboards would be in place for the 2007 season, one in Floyd Stadium and two in Murphy Center.
Hitting the ground running was the trademark of Massaro's first year at Middle Tennessee.
Two days following his hiring, Massaro was pressed into action to find a replacement to lead the nationally recognized women's basketball program. Massaro made his first hire when he brought on board legendary high school coach Rick Insell to take over the program. Both Insell and Stockstill won championships in their first season on the job.
If the business of hiring coaches, fundraising, and running the day-to-day operation of the athletic department wasn't enough to keep him busy, Massaro also has made a significant upgrade in the Blue Raider football schedule. During the summer of 2005, he announced a home game in 2007 that will make Virginia the first team from the highly regarded ACC to visit Floyd Stadium. On his 100th day on the job, Massaro made one of his biggest announcements: a five-year contract with the University of Memphis to play football. The series will get underway in 2007. Part of this contract includes Memphis playing in Floyd Stadium, which will make the Tigers the first in-state Division I-A football team to play the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro. Massaro has also worked out a series with nearby Georgia Tech that will see the Yellow Jackets come to Murfreesboro in 2011.
Massaro, who has stepped up Middle Tennessee's fundraising since his arrival, helped the BRAA set a fundraising record for annual giving in 2005-06 and again in 2006-07.
His media blitz continued with a major move of the Blue Raider Network in 2006 to Nashville flagship radio station 106.7 FM - The Fan. The ESPN station carried football, men's basketball, and select women's basketball games. Massaro also inked a deal with Nelligan Sports Marketing in January of 2007 to handle all the department's corporate sales, radio, and television opportunities.
As senior associate athletic director at South Carolina, Massaro provided significant leadership to the department. He became a senior staff member in 1994.
The Glenwood Springs, Colo., native joined the Gamecock staff under the Ohio University sport administration program in 1985. Massaro helped usher the Gamecocks into the Southeastern Conference and learned under legendary athletic director Dr. Mike McGee.
Massaro, who is a member of the Rutherford County Sports Council and was appointed to a panel on APR Improvement Plans for the 2008 NCAA Convention, earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1983 and his master's degree in sport administration from Ohio University in 1986. At UNC, Massaro was a five-year football team member.
A 1994 graduate of the Sports Management Institute, Massaro has had experience in developing SMI's class programming on different occasions while also serving on the Executive Committee. The SMI is a cooperative educational effort between the schools of business and the athletic departments from Notre Dame, Texas, Michigan, Southern California, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Massaro and his wife, Cindy, have four children: Hank, Lainey, Rachel, and Ben.
