Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham named Anthony Di Fino as the Bearcats Deputy AD, External Relations on Wednesday.
Di Fino will oversee the department’s external operations, including Bearcats Digital, Communications, Fan Experience & Engagement and Ticket Sales & Service. Additionally, he will serve as the department’s liaison with Learfield IMG College and other key partners and constituents.
He comes to Cincinnati after more than four years as Syracuse’s associate athletics director for business development. In that role, he was responsible for developing strategic marketing campaigns to cultivate community relationships and build support for Syracuse Athletics.
“We are excited to have Anthony and his family join our Bearcats community,” Cunningham said. “I had the chance to work with him at Syracuse and am looking forward to seeing him apply his unique blend of storytelling and sales to enhance our external staff. Anthony understands the complex world of college athletics ticket sales and revenue generation as well as anyone I have been around. He will drive all of us to continually get better while building our brand in the local community.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join John Cunningham and the team at Cincinnati.” Di Fino said. “My family and I are excited to become members of both the Bearcats and the Greater Cincinnati communities. I am appreciative of those at Syracuse that have guided me to this point in my career, specifically Director of Athletics John Wildhack. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues and bringing energy and passion to the role on a daily basis to support the mission of the Department of Athletics and this great University.”
Cunningham and Di Fino worked together at Syracuse, spearheading an external relations team which steered decisions on marketing, fundraising, ticketing, sponsorship and communications initiatives. Upon his arrival, Di Fino implemented a new data-driven approach to revenue production and was responsible for Syracuse’s first dynamic pricing model.
Di Fino and his sales staff hit record milestones for football season ticket sales, new football season tickets sold, winning the men’s basketball attendance crowns in 2018-19 and 2019-20, setting an NCAA on-campus record crowd of 35,642 for the Duke game on Feb. 23, 2019 and a school attendance record for the women’s basketball team, drawing 11,021 fans for its 2017 game against Notre Dame.
Before moving to Syracuse in 2016, Di Fino was with IMG Learfield (IMGL) Ticket Solutions from 2011-16. He was the 2013 IMGL General Manager of the Year and 2014 IMGL Executive of the Year and led award-winning sales teams at both Akron and Penn State.
Prior to joining IMG Learfield, Di Fino served as the assistant athletics director for ticket sales and client services for Army West Point. He oversaw all ticket sales efforts, as well as tailgating and marketing strategies, for the Black Knights. Di Fino’s previous experience includes working as the ticket manager at Columbia and as a marketing assistant at Fordham.
The Syracuse, N.Y. native was a student-athlete at Fordham, a four-year football letterwinner and two-time all-conference selection at punter. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and history from Fordham in 2006, a master’s in business and sports management from Columbia in 2009 and is pursuing a master’s in business analytics from Syracuse.
Di Fino, his wife Andrea and their daughter Sofia, are looking forward to enjoying the Cincinnati area soon.
