WVU Athletics Announces Hiring of New Deputy AD, CFO

WVU names Omar Banks as Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Financial Officer. This news was announced in a press release to media members and in a post on social media today.

Banks will serve on the senior leadership team and be in charge of directing the management of the WVU athletic department’s business office, including payroll, benefits, travel, accounts payable, procurement and administration of WVU Athletics’ $90-million operating budget. Officially, Banks will represent WVU Athletics as its CFO in financial operations with the University’s central administration and WVU Foundation.

WVU Athletics is excited to welcome Omar Banks to Morgantown as our new deputy athletics director and chief financial officer!

🔗 https://t.co/8quVZFp5w1#HailWV pic.twitter.com/dvWfZh1F2i

— WVU Sports (@WVUSports) December 4, 2023

WVU director of athletics Wren Baker on Banks: “Omar’s experience in athletics really set him apart in our national search for our new CFO. He is well respected nationally and has great knowledge managing Power 5 athletic budgets. He will be a strong addition to our department, and I can’t wait for him to get started and to welcome the Banks family to Morgantown.”

Banks added his own statement about his new role. “I am extremely excited for this tremendous opportunity to work with Wren Baker and his staff at West Virginia University,” said Banks. “On my visit, I really connected with the people and culture in the department and felt so welcomed that I knew this was the right place for me to continue my professional career. I can’t wait to get to Morgantown and make a positive impact on WVU athletics.”

Background on Banks from WVU’s Press Release

Banks comes to West Virginia after spending the past 16 months directing OMB Leadership Consulting, where he provided strategic insight and ideas to athletic departments across the country with an emphasis on strategic planning, business processes, budgets, finance and revenue generation.

Prior to running his own consulting firm, he served as athletic director at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, from 2019-22. He was responsible for 21 varsity sports, which captured over 25 conference championships, had an overall department GPA that exceeded 3.0, and had the most successful fundraising year in athletics’ history during his three years at the helm.  While there, he also oversaw the university’s efforts and communication that led to Campbell’s move to join the Colonial Athletic Association (now Coastal Athletic Association).

Banks went to Campbell from Virginia Tech where he was the executive associate athletic director and chief financial officer from 2017-19. With the Hokies, he managed a $100-million budget, served on the department’s executive leadership team, directed all financial affairs and was the sport supervisor for women’s basketball and men’s soccer.

Before Virginia Tech, Banks spent more than eight years in the athletic business office at the University of Cincinnati (2009-17), starting out as assistant athletic director and reaching the senior leadership team as executive senior associate athletic director for internal affairs. With the Bearcats, he managed a $60-million budget and directed nine administrative units and more than 70 staff members. He served as sport administrator for football, men’s basketball and men’s soccer, was the financial liaison to an $86-million football stadium renovation and negotiated department contracts for apparel, pouring and concession rights.