Brian Mackin
Brian W. Mackin (born 1960) is Deputy Commissioner of Conference USA, former vice president of PNC Bank and former athletic director for the UAB Blazers.
Mackin is one of three children born to former Regions Bank CEO J. Stanley Mackin and his wife, the former Mary Jo Williams. He was a member of the UAB Blazers baseball team and earned his bachelor's degree in finance at UAB in 1983. He was signed by the Houston Astros and spent a year with the Class A- Auburn Astros of the New York-Pennsylvania League before beginning his business career as a sales manager and marketing manager at Vulcan Materials. In 1990 he left to work as sales manager for Southern Ready Mix, then three years later joined Dunn Construction. He was promoted to vice president in 1993 and later returned to Vulcan Materials as a Manager of Corporate Business Development.
He began working in the Blazers athletic department in 2002 as senior associate athletic director for external affairs. In that role, he established the UAB Athletic Investors Group, the Champion Club, and the Blazer Club was credited with increasing contributions to UAB athletics from $1.3 million in 2001 to $3.7 million in 2006.
He was promoted to director of athletics to succeed Richard Margison on February 14, 2007. Mackin emphasized improving academic performance for student-athletes by implementing an Academic Reform Group and securing gifts for the creation of the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete Academic Center.
Other facilities improvements during his tenure included a new 10,000 square-foot weight room and training facility, the renovation of the Ullman Building for coaching offices, resurfacing of the running track, and development of an on-campus softball facility. He also announced the $1.5 million gift from BBVA Compass toward development of a new soccer field.
While at UAB, Mackin was a member of the NCAA Division I Women's basketball committee and was honored as "Division I-A Fundraiser of the Year" by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors in 2006. Mackin was responsible for firing Blazers head football coach Neil Callaway in November 2011 and the hiring of his replacement, Bill Clark, in January 2012.
Mackin stepped down in December 2014 in the wake of UAB president Ray Watts' announcement of the cancellation of the football, rifle and bowling programs. He continued to draw a salary through February 2015 as a "Special Assistant for Athletics".
Mackin was hired to serve as vice president and relationship manager for PNC Bank's Birmingham-based corporate and institutional banking team in September 2015.
Conference USA announced the hiring of Mackin to the vacant Deputy Commissioner position on July 7, 2017. His duties include oversight of the league's business and human resources functions as well as its multimedia and communications departments. He'll also be the league's liaison to its athletics directors, who include his successor at UAB, Mark Ingram.
Mackin also serves on Birmingham's Public Athletic, Cultural and Entertainment Facilities Board and is active in the Birmingham Tip-Off Club, Monday Morning Quarterback Club and Rotary Club of Birmingham.
Mackin and his wife, Sally, have five children: Ragland, Brian Jr, Ferrell, Mary Aileen, and Ella.
| Preceded by: Richard Margison |
UAB Athletic Director 2007–2014 |
Succeeded by: Mark Ingram |
References
- "Brian Mackin bio (n.d.) uabsports.com - accessed September 25, 2015
- Davis, Byran (December 2, 2014) "UAB AD Mackin reassigned to newly created position." Birmingham Business Journal
- Scarbinsky, Kevin (March 26, 2015) "Former UAB AD Brian Mackin's severance agreement not as lucrative as you thought." The Birmingham News
- Seale, Michael (September 25, 2015) "PNC Bank hires former UAB AD Brian Mackin." Birmingham Business Journal
- Scarbinsky, Kevin (July 7, 2017) "Former UAB AD Brian Mackin named Conference USA deputy commissioner." Template:TBN