TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati Senior Deputy Athletics Director / Chief Operating Officer John Daniel has been named to the Silver Waves Media Top 100 Rising ADs / Future ADs list.
The Silver Waves Media list has become the industry standard for excellence. The 2026 list features some of the most outstanding and impactful Assistant/Deputy/Associate ADs in America.
Since joining Cincinnati Athletics in early 2022, Daniel has had a significant impact on all aspects of the Department, serving in several executive-level positions, now as the Senior Deputy Athletics Director / Chief Operating Officer.
His areas of oversight include revenue generation, financial operations, external relations and communications, capital projects, human resources, Cincy Sports Partners (Cincinnati’s in-house sponsorship arm), NIL and revenue sharing, student-athlete roster management, contracts, and ticket sales and operations.
Working closely with Director of Athletics John Cunningham, Daniel has also assisted in closing significant philanthropic and capital gifts.
Daniel operates as the administrative oversight for Cincinnati football, ushering the program from the American Athletic Conference into the Big 12 Conference. UC has improved its win total every year in the new conference, culminating with an appearance in the Top 25 and a bowl appearance in 2025.
The Baton Rouge native serves the university's administration and finance office in a dual-report role, working closely with campus financial leaders and cabinet members on developing policies and practices to position UC for continued financial stability for years to come.
He has helped lead several head coach searches at UC, including football’s hire of Scott Satterfield and men’s basketball’s recent hire of Jerrod Calhoun as well as women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball and swimming and diving.
Among the many accomplishments during his tenure is the $134 million Sheakley Athletics Indoor Practice Facility and Performance Center project, which he led from planning through completion in 2025. The acclaimed facility has elevated Cincinnati Athletics' training, sports performance and nutrition facilities to the top of the Big 12 Conference. He also was integral in the launch of Cincy Sports Partners, which set sponsorship sales records in its first year of existence in 2026 and the Bearcats’ apparel transition to Nike/Jordan.
Before UC, Daniel held leadership roles at LSU, TCU and Texas A&M, overseeing administration, finance, procurement and special projects while assisting with contract management, resource allocation and coaching searches.