GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota Deputy Director of Athletics Erik Martinson announced on Monday, June 22, 2026, that Ryan Powell has been hired as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Ryan and his family back to Grand Forks," said Martinson. "He brings a unique skillset, wealth of experience to our leadership team and will be a valuable asset to our external operations group." 
 
In this newly created role, Powell will oversee the external operations department at UND Athletics, which includes athletic communications, marketing, content and broadcast properties departments, and serve as the athletic communications contact for the football program.
 
"This is an exciting opportunity for me and my family to return to such a special institution and community," said Powell. "I am grateful to Bill Chaves and Erik Martinson for their confidence in me and the opportunity to serve in this role. The momentum surrounding UND Athletics and the university as a whole is undeniable. I'm excited to work alongside our coaches, staff, student-athletes and supporters to build on that momentum and continue moving the Fighting Hawks forward."  
 
Powell returns to North Dakota after spending the last eight years as the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications and Broadcasting at The Summit League. While in Sioux Falls, Powell's responsibilities included leading, managing and overseeing the athletic communications, media and broadcasting endeavors for the nine-team league while also serving as the championship manager for men's and women's golf.
 
He spent nearly a decade in his first stint in Grand Forks, where he was the associate director of media relations, serving as primary contact for football, men's basketball and the men's and women's golf programs. The Fighting Hawks won the program's first Big Sky Championships in both football and men's basketball during the 2016-17 academic year and also participated in NCAA postseason play for the first time at the Division I level that season.
 
Before his time at UND, Powell spent two years as associate director of athletics communication at the University of Central Florida in Orlando where he served as the primary contact for UCF's 2007 Conference USA champion football team and 2008 NCAA East Region qualifying women's golf team.

While at UCF, Powell successfully promoted the school's first consensus football All-American in running back Kevin Smith, who was a third-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Powell also served as the media coordinator for the 2007 NCAA Women's Golf Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Prior to his stint in Orlando, Powell served two years as the associate director of media relations with Conference USA, based in Irving, Texas. At C-USA, he served as the league's co-contact for football and primary contact for indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country and softball. He also served as interim men's basketball contact during the 2005-06 season.

Powell is currently a member of the board of directors for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association - a post he began prior to the 2013 season. He served as the organization's president in 2017-18.

A native of Huntsville, Ala., Powell also spent time as a media relations assistant at Auburn University and the University of Memphis. He earned a bachelor's degree in corporate journalism from Auburn in 2000 and received a master's degree in sport and leisure commerce from Memphis in 2004.

Ryan and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Jack and Evan.
 
For more information on North Dakota Athletics, follow on social media @UNDsports or visit FightingHawks.com.