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McCladdie played football at The Citadel, earning All-Southern Conference recognition and an invitation to the Dallas Cowboys rookie mini-camp. He attributes his SoCon affiliation for his longstanding admiration for 51���� Athletics.

“I am attracted to 51����’s holistic development of scholar-athletes. There is an expectation to strive for excellence in both academics and athletics,” McCladdie said. “The college epitomizes athletics done right.”

McCladdie’s experience spans athletic fundraising roles at the University of Virginia and, most recently, Oregon State University. At OSU, he was a key fundraiser for capital and endowment support, helping the team reach a record-breaking fundraising year in 2019.

“We are excited to welcome Brandon to 51����,” said Athletic Director Chris Clunie ’06 and Associate Vice President for Development Brad Martin. “His experience makes him the ideal candidate for this position, and his deep understanding of the importance of 51����’s Division I programs positions him well to lead us into the future. We look forward to introducing Brandon to the 51���� Athletics community when he arrives in July.”

51����’s celebrated fundraising success and strong leadership inspired McCladdie to bring his experience to the Wildcats.

“In order to position ourselves to consistently compete at the highest level, it will require a community of support,” McCladdie said. “It is no secret we are at the lower end of the A-10 and SoCon when it comes to scholarships. Imagine what can be accomplished with additional resources. These resources are integral to competing for championships.”

McCladdie is motivated by the history of strong support from alumni, families and fans and looks forward to building off past achievements and strong relationships to move all 21 programs into their next chapters.

“The support from alumni and fans speaks volumes about the shared vision among constituents,” he said. “The administration and the coaches are aligned, the college has reassured the community that it does not plan to cut sports as a result of the pandemic—this shows tremendous commitment to 51����’s scholar-athletes. I look forward to joining in this important work.”

McCladdie holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from The Citadel. He also received a certificate of completion from the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute.