South Carolina Finalizes Contract for New Deputy AD Wesley Mallette
The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees wrapped up an important meeting on Friday, and while the move from Under Armour to Nike grabbed headlines, another key development was confirmed for Gamecock Athletics.
The Board officially approved the contract for newly hired Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Marketing Officer Wesley Mallette, whose deal runs through summer 2027. Mallette will earn $300,000 in his first year and $310,000 in year two, along with a one-time $15,000 bonus as part of the agreement.
Mallette, who was Athletics Director at UC Riverside, was formally announced as South Carolina’s new deputy AD on July 30.
Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati praised the hire, saying Mallette brings the right mix of experience and vision:
“On behalf of our entire athletics department we are thrilled to welcome Wes and his family to South Carolina. We identified a tremendous pool of candidates for this position and he quickly rose to the top. Wes brings a wealth of energy and experience, having touched every aspect of an athletics program. His background in marketing, branding, content creation, communications, and the NIL space will be critical as we continue to embrace a new landscape across college athletics.”
Proven Leadership at UC Riverside
Mallette joined UC Riverside in 2018 and became AD in 2021, steering the department through its toughest challenge — the threat of losing all 17 sports programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, under his leadership, UCR not only survived but flourished.
Highlights of his tenure include:
- Securing a new Nike/BSN SPORTS apparel deal.
- Leading UCR Athletics to its best fundraising year ever in 2024–25.
- Earning recognition as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Men’s College Basketball by Silver Waves Media in 2023 and 2024.
Before serving as AD, Mallette oversaw external relations, communications, fan engagement, and brand strategy at UCR, helping reshape the Highlanders’ identity.
Mallette on Joining South Carolina
Mallette expressed his excitement about the opportunity:
“I am truly honored to join the University of South Carolina and Gamecock Athletics. The chance to work alongside such an incredibly talented group of staff, coaches, student-athletes, and campus leaders is a dream come true. I am excited to help grow the Gamecock Athletics brand and build on the rich tradition, competitive excellence, and great student-athlete experience that makes South Carolina so special.”
A Career Built on Communications & Branding
Mallette’s resume includes stints as Associate AD for Strategic Communications at Cal, VP of Communications for Pac-12 Networks, and more than a decade in senior communications roles with MTV Networks, BET, and Victoria’s Secret/Bath & Body Works. He also spent years training athletes on brand development through his workshop “Building & Protecting Your Brand in the Digital Age.”
A former Division I football and track athlete at James Madison University, Mallette also holds a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Maryland.
Praise from Around College Athletics
Industry leaders praised South Carolina’s hire:
- Greg Byrne, Alabama AD: “Wesley has a creative mind that will make an incredible impact on South Carolina, their athletics department, their fans, and their student-athletes. Jeremiah made a great hire with Wesley.”
- Dan Butterly, Big West Commissioner: “Wes has been an extraordinary leader within The Big West and across college athletics. South Carolina is gaining a true star.”
- Sandy Barbour, former AD at Penn State & Cal: “South Carolina has scored big with their hire of Wes Mallette! He’s tailor-made for today’s environment, with a business mindset rooted in storytelling and communications.”
- Adam Stanco, CBS Sports/247Sports VP: “This is one of the most significant hires I’ve seen in a long time.”
- Mike Yam, NFL Network Host: “South Carolina has added a gem to its team. He cares about people above everything. South Carolina is lucky to have him.”
- Mike Magpayo, Fordham MBB Coach: “He was our Ted Lasso at UC Riverside. What Wes did there was a lesson in sheer will to find excellence regardless of circumstance.”
- Paula Smith, UC Irvine AD: “Wes is the kind of leader who shows up for everyone. People don’t just respect him, they trust him.”
Looking Ahead
With his proven record in branding, fundraising, and athlete development, Wesley Mallette arrives in Columbia ready to elevate South Carolina’s athletics on the field, in the classroom, and in the national conversation.
