LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - After spending the past year leading the UNLV Rebel Athletic Fund as interim director, the UNLV Athletics Department named Erick Harper as Senior Associate Athletics Director of Development on Thursday. Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy made the announcement after Harper's strong year overseeing the department that saw the total fund revenue increase by $3 million from the previous fiscal year.

"We had many outstanding candidates apply, but with the experience, talent and established relationships Erick has built, he is the right person to lead this critical area," Kunzer-Murphy said. "He has helped stabilize the RAF while serving in an interim basis over the last year and we look forward to seeing what the department will accomplish under his leadership moving forward."

Harper first came to Las Vegas in October 2012 as Associate Athletics Director with the Rebel Athletic Fund, and held that role for the next three years before leading the department as interim. Among Harper's many accomplishments in his four years with the Scarlet and Gray are serving as a member of the fundraising team that has helped obtain $16 million in pledges for the planned Fertitta Football Complex, developing the Planned Giving and Endowment Campaign, and executing a plan to increase the UNLV Loyalty Circle Membership with the goal of reaching 250 members by 2020 to help underwrite student-athlete scholarships at the school.

Previous to UNLV, Harper spent eight years at Arizona, first as Associate AD for Football Operations from 2003-11, before moving to the fundraising side as Associate AD for Major Gifts. His collegiate career began at Kansas State, where he started out as a marketing and development intern from 1990-92, then moved into the assistant director of marketing role from 1992-95. After a year as Assistant AD/Director of Advertising Sales, Harper finished his time at KSU as Assistant AD for Compliance from 1996 through December of 2003.

Harper was a four-year letterwinner on the Kansas State football team, where he was a three-time All-Big Eight Honorable Mention selection, and named freshman All-America in 1986. He also earned two academic All-Big Eight honors for the Wildcats. He earned his bachelor of science degree in social sciences from Kansas State in May 1992, and his master's degree in organizational management from Ashford University in October 2013.

Harper is married to Patrice Harper, who is the Director of Development for the School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at UNLV. They have two children, Sydney (9) and Avery (7 months).