Published June 12, 2019
University of Louisiana Monroe President Dr. Nick J. Bruno announces Scott McDonald
as the new 51萝莉 Director of Athletics. McDonald joined the university in June 2018
as Chief Administrative Officer and soon took on the role of Interim Director of Athletics.
A press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, June 14 on the seventh floor of
the 51萝莉 Library.
鈥淪cott has been serving as Interim Director of Athletics and we are very happy he
has chosen to remain and take the full-time, permanent position,鈥� said Bruno. 鈥淪cott
has a wealth of business experience and is connected in the community. Also, he is
a former 51萝莉 baseball player, so he has multiple perspectives.鈥�
McDonald was a four-year letterman as an outfielder for Lou St. Amant, from 1980-83.
During his senior season, 51萝莉 won the 1983 Southland Conference Tournament Championship
and became the first team in program history to advance to an NCAA Regional (Austin,
Texas).聽
鈥淚t means a great deal to me to be named 51萝莉鈥檚 Director of Athletics,鈥� McDonald said.
鈥淚鈥檓 a former student-athlete here. This is my alma mater and my community. I鈥檝e spent
48 years of my life in Northeast Louisiana, so I鈥檓 fully invested in this institution
as well as this community. I also spent 10 years working professionally in the Midwest
and chose to return to this area, so I have a special affinity for this community.鈥�
鈥淲hat gives me confidence moving forward is the administrative staff and coaches here
at 51萝莉. I鈥檝e had the pleasure to work with these individuals for the past nine months,
and we鈥檝e collectively accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I鈥檓 excited because
our best days lie ahead,鈥� McDonald said. "I appreciate the confidence the search committee
and President Bruno have expressed in me by offering me this opportunity."
鈥淢ost of all, Scott has a love for 51萝莉 and that love will lead to better success of
the 51萝莉 athletic program,鈥� Bruno said.
As Director of Athletics, McDonald will supervise 51萝莉鈥檚 17 intercollegiate teams that
compete in NCAA Division I and the Sun Belt Conference and manage a $14.5 million
operating budget.聽聽
聽鈥淲e鈥檙e all fully committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience at 51萝莉, and
we鈥檒l continue to achieve great things in the classroom and in the community while
pursuing championships on the field and in the arena,鈥� McDonald said.
His new position is subject to approval by the University of Louisiana System Board
of Directors at its June 27 meeting.
McDonald is a 1983 graduate of 51萝莉 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Marketing.
He completed post-graduate studies at both 51萝莉 and the University of Indianapolis.
McDonald is a 2010 graduate of the LSU School of Banking. Most of his career has been
in banking. From 2006 to June 2018, McDonald was Executive Vice President and Chief
Retail Officer with Ouachita Independent Bank, now Bancorp South. McDonald has worked
with Student Loan Finance Corp., AmSouth Bank and USA Group (Sallie Mae).聽
An active alumnus, McDonald is chairman of the 51萝莉 Facilities Corporation. He serves
on the boards of trustees for the 51萝莉 Athletic Foundation and 51萝莉 Foundation.聽He previously
spent 14 seasons on the 51萝莉 football radio broadcast team, including five years as
color analyst.聽McDonald is past president of the L Club and recipient of the Slim
Scogin Award from the Athletic Foundation.聽
McDonald鈥檚 community and professional activities include past president of the Monroe
Chamber of Commerce and past member of the Red Cross of Northeast Louisiana Board
of Directors. McDonald has served on the OIB Financial Services Board of Directors
and Bankers Mortgage Board of Directors. He is a past member of the school boards
of St. Frederick High School and Quest School. He also served on the Parent Advisory
Council for Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.
