Nick Schmidt begins his sixth year as a member of MSUB’s athletic department’s staff (third as Assistant AD) in 2025-26. He is responsible for planned, long-term, and annual giving for the Yellowjacket athletic department. He serves as the MSUB Foundation lead staffer for Jacket Giving Day and assists on various other university-wide initiatives. He was selected by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) to be a participant in the Bobby Purcell Mentoring Program as a mentee during the 2021-2022 academic year. He was appointed sport supervisor for Yellowjacket Men’s Soccer in 2022.
During the 2020-2021 academic year, Schmidt helped lead the formation of the Yellowjacket Athletic Association. This organization is a cooperative effort with the MSUB Foundation and replaced the previous booster club known as the “Jacketbackers.” The Yellowjacket Athletic Association centralized all fundraising efforts, donor outreach, stewardship, and alum outreach with the first athletic alum group (the Varsity Club) formed as part of the Yellowjacket Athletic Association. Since the Yellowjacket Athletic Association’s formation, it has consistently broken records. Yellowjacket Athletics raised approximately $189,000+ in 2019-2020 (before the YAA’s formation) to this last year, raising over $390,000+.
Schmidt previously operated his fundraising, events, and marketing consulting firm in the South Puget Sound region while also serving as an adjunct professor of sports administration and marketing in the business school at Saint Martin’s University.
While operating his consulting firm, he helped lead the rebranding and enhanced marketing effort around the Capital Lakefair Races (now known as the Olympia Lakefair Races) and established the Experience Olympia Sports Commission and regional sports awards program. He also worked with the Boy Scouts of America (Pacific Harbors Council.) He was part-owner of a semi-professional soccer team. Schmidt has been a regular content contributor for Seattle University’s Master in Sports Business Leadership on issues surrounding marketing, fundraising, branding, and current events in sports.
From 2015-17 Schmidt served as the director of athletics at South Puget Sound Community College, where he oversaw a $200,000 budget, four varsity sports, and approximately 50 student-athletes. He increased the department’s exposure and presence through relationships built across campus. He helped to establish a fundraising program that immediately saw a 70 percent return within the first year.
Schmidt is no stranger to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, having served as the championships, marketing, and ticketing assistant for the conference from 2012-15. He helped to establish the first e-ticketing program for conference championship events. He served in various administrative capacities for multiple league championship events, the 2013 Division II West/South-Central regional men’s golf tournament, and the 2013 Division II national cross-country championships. He continues to serve as assistant tournament director and championships starter for the GNAC Golf Championships held yearly at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Schmidt got his start in athletics by serving as the director of basketball operations for league rival Western Washington’s men’s basketball program during the 2006-07 season.
Schmidt earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Western Washington University in 2007 and a master’s degree in sports administration and leadership from Seattle University in 2013. He received a non-profit management certificate from the University of Washington in 2019. He holds a Washington State secondary teaching certificate with English-Language Arts and History endorsements.
Schmidt is a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) and the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA). He grew up in Olympia, Washington, and graduated from Capital High School.
