Kasey Byers Named Senior Associate A.D. for External Relations

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of New Mexico Vice President and Director of Athletics Fernando Lovo has announced the hiring of Kasey Byers as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations. Byers, most recently at the University of Washington, will also serve on UNM Athletics’ Executive Leadership Team.

In this role, Byers will have primary oversight of all external functions within the department, including marketing, fan engagement and experience, promotions, public relations, media relations, brand consistency, and creative services for all of UNM’s athletic programs.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kasey back to the Lobo Family,” said Lovo. “His wide-ranging experience in building and evolving creative brands—not only at Washington, but also at Oregon State, New Mexico, and North Dakota State—truly stood out. He’s been part of some of the most dynamic in-game experiences in the country at the University of Washington, and I’m excited for him to bring that vision here as we work to create a best-in-class in-game experience for our fans. Kasey understands the challenges ahead in this new era of college athletics and is exceptionally prepared to lead our external team and elevate how we tell our story.”

Byers returns to UNM after four years at Washington, where he served the past three as Senior Director of Creative Services for Husky Football. In that role, he led a full creative staff responsible for video production, graphic design, and social media strategy. He oversaw all the creative aspects of Washington’s 2024 run to the College Football Playoff National Championship game; a scenario he knew well from his earlier work during North Dakota State’s first three FCS National Championships.

Prior to Washington, Byers spent five years at Oregon State as Director of Video, managing the program’s visual identity and contributing to department-wide creative strategy in partnership with OSU’s Team Ideation staff across marketing and communications.

From 2014–16, Byers served at UNM as Producer of Lobo TV and later as the department’s first Assistant A.D. for Video Production. He played a key role in chronicling the Lobos’ 2015 bowl game run and pioneered a long-form video style that laid the groundwork for the creation of Lobo Films. He also produced a groundbreaking two-hour National Signing Day show that aired live on Lobo TV and was later picked up in shortened form by ROOT Sports across the Pacific and Mountain regions.

“I am incredibly humbled to return to a place that has always remained so special to me,” said Byers. “It was clear during this process how exciting the future of Lobo Athletics is under AD Lovo’s leadership, and I am deeply grateful to him and the search committee for their trust in me to lead such a storied brand. Over the last decade, the relationships and experiences I had in Albuquerque have always been a constant in my journey. I cannot wait to return and help lead innovative strategies to deliver our story to the world. My fiancé Amy, my family, and I are excited to integrate ourselves into this program and this community.”

Byers began his professional career as a multimedia producer with the Denver Broncos before launching the video production office at North Dakota State in 2010. While at NDSU, he produced a feature-length Bison football documentary that premiered in theaters across North Dakota and was later sold in stores and online.

A graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in journalism, Byers will be joined in Albuquerque by his fiancé Amy, daughters, Kazlin and Dani, and son Alec.