Kyle Conder

Title

Former Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics

Kyle Conder was the Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) from Fall of 2022 until Fall of 2025. In his time at CSUB, Conder drove a transformative vision rooted in academic excellence, an outstanding student-athlete experience, competitive success, and community engagement. Conder brought over 20 years of NCAA Division I experience, with progressive leadership roles at Southern Methodist University (SMU), the University of Southern California (USC), and Tulane University.

Strategic Vision and Culture Building
At CSUB, Conder launched CSUB Athletics: RISING, a strategic plan that aligns the department’s mission, vision, and values with measurable goals. He has fostered a culture of respect, integrity, spirit, inclusion, nurture, and grit, while emphasizing innovation, service, and student-athlete well-being. His leadership has introduced new traditions like the Athletics Hall of Fame and enhanced the game day experience with upgraded amenities, merchandise sales, and fan-focused events.

Student-Athlete Academic Performance
Conder made academic excellence a cornerstone of his leadership. Under his direction, CSUB student-athletes continued to earn a department-wide GPA of 3.0 or higher for 21 consecutive terms. The department also reached a 90% Graduation Success Rate and set program records in the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR). His commitment to holistic student-athlete development included expanded programming in career readiness, leadership, and community service.

Fundraising and Capital Projects
Conder led transformational fundraising efforts at CSUB, securing one of the largest gifts in program history to fund improvements at the baseball facility. He restructured the department’s fundraising strategy to emphasize unrestricted giving, resulting in record-breaking Day of Giving campaigns—accounting for nearly 70% of all university donations. Facility enhancements under his leadership included the completion of a $3 million renovation of the women’s locker rooms and upgrades to baseball, softball, and soccer venues.

Successful Coaches and Winning Programs
Conder had a proven track record of hiring and supporting successful coaches. At CSUB, he hired eight new head coaches—four women and three from underrepresented groups—including the university’s first Black female head coach. His hires have also been recognized nationally, including Baseball Head Coach Jordon Banfield, named a “Sneaky Good Hire” of 2024 by D1baseball. Conder’s direction led to competitive success across multiple sports, including:

NCAA tournament qualification for Wrestling, including CSUB’s first All-American in over a decade
Individual Big West champions in Track & Field and Swimming & Diving
A Big West Championship Final appearance for Women’s Soccer
Consistent Big West tournament appearances for Men’s and Women’s Basketball

At SMU, every head coach he hired earned Coach of the Year honors within two seasons, achieved a national ranking, and led their teams to NCAA postseason appearances.

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Innovation
Conder has built nationally recognized NIL programs at both SMU and CSUB. At CSUB, he launched partnerships with Athlete’s Thread and Influxer, propelling the university to a top-three national ranking in NIL merchandise sales—outperforming several football programs. He also helped establish one of the Big West’s few NIL collectives, creating new revenue streams and branding opportunities for student-athletes.

Leadership Roles and National Influence
Conder was a respected voice in collegiate athletics governance. He served on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors Infractions Process Committee—one of only two athletics directors nationwide on the panel. He has also chaired the Big West Conference Athletics Directors Committee and the NCAA Division I Women’s Rowing Championship Committee. He is a graduate of the NCAA Pathway Program and the Sports Management Institute, and a frequent national presenter on leadership, compliance, and legal issues in college athletics. His leadership extended to university service, including roles on the CSUB President’s Cabinet and Foundation Board.

Personal Background and Education
Conder holds a Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada). Conder worked in athletics compliance and student-athlete academic support while in law school. He also served in the Office of the General Counsel at UNLV and was a summer associate for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. He worked in sports information and participated in basketball at Nevada.