Having graduated and worked at Louisiana Tech, Matthew Thorne is returning to his alma mater to join the Championship Resources team as an Associate AD.
Thorne earned three degrees from LA Tech and spent two years working as a Game Management Associate. Since then, he has spent time at Lamar University and most recently the University of Louisville where he was Assistant Director of Development for the Cardinal Athletic Fund.
“I am excited to welcome Matthew back home to Ruston to join our Championship Resources team,” said Wally Crittenden, Senior Associate AD for Championship Resources & CRO. “His existing relationships from his time at LA Tech as well as the experiences he has had at multiple institutions will be a welcomed addition to our office.
“Our constituents will enjoy getting to know Matthew as they experience a “Fan First” commitment to service that our team will provide.”
Thorne spent three years in Louisville as a frontline fundraiser with a portfolio of approximately 120 donors. He worked with the Executive Director of Development to manage annual fund and operations for the CAF, soliciting gifts of $10,000+ for capital projects and campaigns as well as support for the collective.
“I am truly thankful to Ryan for providing me with an opportunity to come home,” said Thorne. “Louisiana Tech is a special place that I hold near and dear to my heart. I am humbled and honored to return to my alma mater to give back all that was afforded to me. I cannot wait to get to work and reconnect with so many familiar faces.”
He also assisted with tickets sales and seat donations renewals for football and men’s basketball while also helping increase student donors by 120 percent. He was also a point of contact with campus advancement and played a lead role for university-wide giving day, an outlet that raised $200,000+ for “Raise Some L” in 2023.
Prior to his time at Louisville, Thorne spent three years in Beaumont, Texas at Lamar where he was a Marketing Assistant and Interim Ticket Office Director before transition to Coordinator of Athletic Development. He managed a portfolio of approximately 150 donors while also developing a new Lettermen’s Club where donations by former student-athletes increased by 108 percent.
Thorne introduced the first ever “Giving Day” at Lamar, helping generate a 360 percent donor increase from year one to year two. He also oversaw the annual fund and sports-specific giving.
Originally from Pineville, Louisiana, Thorne earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies with a minor in sports marketing (2015) as well as two master’s degrees in kinesiology/sports administration (2017) and business administration (2021). He is currently pursuing his doctorate at the University of Louisville.
Thorne is married to the former Lori Richardson from Ruston. The couple has one son, Henry.
