Moersch Named Associate AD for Development

POCATELLO, Idaho- Idaho State Athletic Director Pauline Thiros has hired Joel Moersch as the new Associate Athletic Director for Development. Moersch comes to Idaho State with extensive experience in annual giving and major gifts.
 
"We are excited to bring Joel into the Bengal Family," Idaho State Director of Athletics Pauline Thiros said. "His strong background in collegiate athletics fundraising will definitely help inform our strategies going forward, but his ability to form strong and meaningful relationships is the biggest reason he will be successful. He shares our vision to think bigger and expect excellence across the department, including in the fundraising arena. Together as staff, coaches, alumni and our greater community, we will provide what is needed to achieve success at a much higher level."
 
Prior to his new position at ISU, Moersch was the Senior Development Officer at Intermountain in Montana. He played a pivotal role in raising major gifts in support of children and families in the Flathead Valley impacted by abuse, neglect, mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide. In addition to overseeing annual giving, special events, and the local development staff, his focus was on fostering long-term support for the charitable organization.
 
"It is an honor to return to college athletics after serving such an admirable cause and need in the community," said Moersch. "From the minute I stepped on campus and learned about Pauline's vision for the department, I knew the timing was right to realign my career. I am grateful to be putting down roots in Pocatello and in a position to help garner support for our student-athletes, coaches, and the future of ISU Athletics. I look forward to working with the Bengal faithful."
 
The Corvallis, Ore. native started his career as a marketing coordinator at Oregon State University in 2006 where he worked alongside Beaver Sports Properties to strengthen the OSU Athletics brand. He also learned the ins and outs of the department as executive assistant to the senior leadership team.
 
From there, Moersch was named Assistant AD for Development at Eastern Illinois University in 2008. While in Charleston, he initiated an Athletic Director's Gala and implemented a strategic plan for the Panther Club resulting in membership growth from approximately 1,200 donors upon his arrival to over 2,000 in 2010.
 
Moersch went on to spend two years at UCLA as the Assistant Director for Major Gifts where he secured several five and six figure gifts for the Campaign of Champions – a $136 million renovation of historic Pauley Pavilion. His work took him beyond the office as the athletic department's regional development officer for San Diego and Orange counties where he managed several alumni committees, volunteers, and fundraising events. He also collaborated with head coaches and UCLA legends to implement fundraising campaigns aimed at securing donations to the Wooden Athletic Fund.
 
Following his time at UCLA, Moersch joined Utah State Athletics as the Assistant AD for Major Gifts in 2012 where he contributed to the fundraising efforts for a new strength and conditioning center and basketball practice facility. He also secured several major gifts for the Merlin Olsen Fund for Football Competitive Excellence and was a member of the senior staff that garnered conference championships in football, volleyball, and women's soccer.

Moersch returned to his alma mater, Eastern Oregon University in 2013 as the Director of Development where he managed operations in University Advancement including the Alumni Association and the Campaign for Eastern – a multimillion-dollar scholarship endowment initiative. He led a team of development officers and introduced new revenue-generating strategies while re-engaging alumni and donors.

He then went on to become the Assistant AD for Annual Giving at the University of Massachusetts from 2014-2015 where he oversaw the department's primary fundraising arm, the Minutemen Club. He coordinated marketing and stewardship campaigns for the university's 21 sport programs with a focus on increasing support to the Gridiron Club (football) and Pond Club (men's hockey).
 
Moersch attended EOU as a collegiate baseball player, earning his bachelor's degree in 2004 and his MBA in 2006. He is joined in Pocatello by his wife Mallory, daughter McKinley, and their yellow lab, Gentry.