Brock Rydecki – Murray State University

Brock Rydecki does not define his career through titles, but through the evolution of Murray State University’s athletics footprint and the pressures shaping collegiate sports today. As senior associate athletic director for facilities and capital projects, he operates at the intersection of infrastructure, revenue strategy, and student-athlete experience, navigating a landscape reshaped by name, image, and likeness and the rise of revenue sharing.

A former Racer football player, Rydecki has remained closely tied to the institution that shaped him. His role spans capital development, facility operations, game operations, fan experience, and equipment, and he also serves as a liaison to the football program. That breadth reflects both modern demands and the expectations placed on mid-major programs competing in an increasingly complex environment. His vantage point shows him how quickly priorities can shift and how critical it is to stay agile while maintaining a clear long-term vision.

Changing economics of college athletics

“The new name of the game is NIL and revenue sharing,” Rydecki says.

That shift has redefined how departments allocate resources and evaluate return. A decade ago, the facilities arms race centered on building the most impressive spaces. Today, the calculus has changed. Facilities are no longer just recruiting tools. They are expected to function as financial assets.

At Murray State, that reality has driven a pivot toward creating facilities that generate income while enhancing the fan and student-athlete experience. Rydecki and his team are overseeing upgrades across multiple sports, including a seven- to eight-figure basketball arena renovation that will introduce premium seating and a courtside club.

“We’re trying to create revenue streams off every one of our facilities,” Rydecki says.

The strategy reflects a broader trend, where departments must sustain themselves amid rising costs and uncertain NIL-driven models. For Murray State, the challenge is sharper. Facilities must attract recruits, enhance game-day environments, and offer sponsorship and premium-experience opportunities that generate consistent revenue. Every investment must carry both competitive and financial value, reinforcing the idea that facilities are central to the department’s long-term viability.

Designing for retention & revenue

Retention has become one of the most pressing concerns, as both student-athletes and coaches move more frequently than ever.

That reality places pressure on facilities to serve as a stabilizing force. While the program may not match financial incentives elsewhere, it can create an environment that supports performance and reflects a commitment to excellence. Facilities, in many ways, become a statement of intent, signaling to athletes and staff that they are valued.

Rydecki’s team benchmarks against larger programs while adapting ideas to fit Murray State’s scale. Extensive site visits inform decisions, enabling them to identify concepts that can be translated into their own context.

“We’ve been to 40 to 50 schools in the past years on site visits,” Rydecki says.

The emphasis is on interpretation, not replication. Whether it is premium seating or fan engagement features, each element is evaluated for its contribution to revenue and experience. The department has also shifted toward celebrating its history through archival imagery and program-defining moments, creating a more authentic environment that resonates with both players and fans.

Building through alignment & support

Murray State’s current facilities surge is notable not just for its scope, but for how it has been funded. Every major project underway has been supported entirely through donor contributions, reflecting strong relationships and institutional alignment.

Rydecki emphasizes that success stems from coordinated effort across leadership levels, from the Board of Regents to the university president and athletics administration.

“We are 1,000 percent aligned, and without that, you don’t move forward,” Rydecki says.

That alignment has allowed the department to move decisively, capitalizing on momentum generated by athletic success and community engagement. It has also reinforced the importance of athletics as a visible element of campus life.

“We aren’t necessarily the most important thing on campus, but we’re the most visible,” Rydecki says.

Facilities become a front-facing representation of the institution, shaping perceptions among recruits, fans, and donors. For Rydecki, investments must be strategic and grounded in how they support both competitive success and financial sustainability. The ability to align vision with execution has been a defining factor in Murray State’s recent progress.

Developing people alongside facilities

Rydecki places equal emphasis on the people behind the scenes. His graduate assistant program has become a pipeline for emerging talent, with a track record of placing participants in prominent roles across the country.

Each graduate assistant gains hands-on experience across operations while receiving mentorship and professional development. The results are evident: graduates have secured positions in programs such as Texas A&M, North Texas, Oklahoma, and UT Chattanooga.

“We’ve been really fortunate to build a successful graduate assistant program here, 100 percent job placement at some pretty good places,” Rydecki says.

His leadership approach is shaped by his own journey. After earning degrees at Murray State, he spent time as a high school athletic director before returning in 2016. Since then, he has advanced through the department while remaining closely connected to its mission.

“It is gratifying to do this with people you love and at a place that means so much,” Rydecki says.

Navigating an uncertain future

The broader landscape of college athletics remains in flux, with NIL, the transfer portal, and evolving governance creating uncertainty. Rydecki describes the current environment as unpredictable yet full of opportunity for those willing to adapt.

The key is remaining proactive. By investing in revenue-generating facilities, prioritizing alignment, and focusing on the experience of student-athletes and fans, Murray State is positioning itself to remain competitive.

At the same time, Rydecki emphasizes the importance of managing expectations. Not every idea can be implemented, nor can every request be fulfilled. The challenge lies in identifying impactful wins while maintaining a long-term vision, even as the rules keep changing.

For Rydecki, the work is both professional and personal. It is about building something that reflects Murray State’s values while preparing for what comes next. It is about creating spaces where student-athletes can thrive and where the community can take pride.

In a landscape defined by uncertainty, that sense of purpose provides stability. It ensures that, regardless of how college athletics continues to evolve, the focus remains on delivering an experience that is sustainable and distinctly Murray State. That commitment extends beyond facilities themselves, influencing how the department approaches every decision, from small upgrades to major capital investments, always with an eye toward impact, efficiency, and the long-term strength of the program and its continued growth overall.