TicketsBen Hofstetter serves as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Cincinnati, where he leads strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects across Cincinnati Athletics. Working closely with Athletics Director John Cunningham and the department's senior leadership, Hofstetter drives long-range planning, facilities development, digital infrastructure, and commercial partnerships that support the continued growth of the Bearcats program.
Hofstetter first joined the University of Cincinnati in 2008 and moved into Cincinnati Athletics in 2017. Since then, he has been central to some of the department's most consequential work during a period of historic transformation. That work has spanned major capital projects including the $86 million West Pavilion expansion at Nippert Stadium and the $87 million renovation of Fifth Third Arena, as well as commercial partnerships including Cincy Light and the Cincy Reigns NIL program.
Hofstetter led the modernization of Cincinnati Athletics' digital infrastructure, including implementing the department's first CRM platform and establishing a more data-driven approach to engaging Bearcats fans, alumni, and donors. He currently leads the department's artificial intelligence strategy and emerging technology initiatives, driving operational efficiency and fan engagement innovation across more than 30 organizational units.
Prior to his current role, Hofstetter founded and led The Agency, Cincinnati's integrated digital media and public relations operation, unifying sports information and creative teams into a single content organization serving coaching staffs and national media partners alike. His work in digital storytelling earned a Regional Emmy Award and a CASE Circle of Excellence Grand Gold Award, including for Let It Fly, the documentary series chronicling Cincinnati Football's historic 2021 season and College Football Playoff appearance. He also led the university's hosting of ESPN College GameDay, coordinating across institutional and broadcast partners to deliver one of college football's most visible platforms.
Before joining Athletics, Hofstetter spent nearly a decade in university leadership offices building the institution's early digital foundation — launching its first enterprise CMS and first iPhone app, creating NightRide App, a free on-demand campus transportation service that predated mainstream ride-sharing, and establishing the university's voice on emerging social platforms. He also contributed to several long-range strategic plans that ran parallel to Cincinnati's sustained push for Power Five membership, an effort that culminated in the Bearcats' move to the Big 12 Conference.
A lifelong Bearcats fan, Hofstetter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Media with a minor in Marketing from the University of Dayton. He and his wife, Dr. Colleen Hofstetter, live in Cincinnati with their three children.