DAYTON, Ohio – University of Dayton Vice President and Director of Athletics Tim Wabler announced today that Scott DeBolt has accepted the position of senior associate director of athletics and director of UD Arena. DeBolt comes to Dayton after 12 years as vice president of operations for the Columbus Crew.

"We are very happy to announce Scott DeBolt as our new senior associate director of athletics and director of UD Arena, and excited that someone of his caliber will be in charge of all of our athletics facilities," Wabler said.  "His expertise in operations and customer service is exceptional, and his experience in hosting some of the biggest special events in the sporting world fit perfectly with the mission of the University of Dayton Arena. He is a uniquely qualified candidate to maintain and enhance the Arena's sterling reputation as one of college basketball's great venues."
 
DeBolt, a two-time Major League Soccer Operations Executive of the Year, takes the place of Tim O'Connell who was the UD Arena Director for the past 19 years and was recently named the Vice President of Ballpark Operations for the Cincinnati Reds.
 
"The opportunity to manage the University of Dayton Arena and the other fine athletic facilities at UD is an exciting one," said DeBolt. "For almost the last 20 years, I've been fortunate to work for organizations that value first-class athletics and the community around them. I'm very pleased to join a nationally-respected university that holds those same traditions in high regard.
 
"I want to thank Tim Wabler and Neil Sullivan for the opportunity to join this great team," he added. "The UD Athletics and University staffs have been so welcoming and professional throughout the whole process. I am anxious to get started."

DeBolt spent 12 years as vice president of operations for the Columbus Crew, the MLS team owned by the Hunt Sports Group from 2001-2013. He oversaw the ground and facility maintenance, event management, merchandising, security and office personnel. While with the Crew he was named the 2003 Employee of the Year and the 2005 MLS Operations Executive of the Year. He also served as the venue executive director of the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in which Columbus Crew Stadium was home to three group play doubleheaders. While in Columbus, DeBolt also served as an independent project manager for The Jerome Schottenstein Center, home of The Ohio State University men's and women's basketball and men's ice hockey teams.
 
Prior to working with the Crew, DeBolt was the director of operations for the Chicago Fire from 1997 to 2001. He was the fourth employee hired to help get the Fire franchise started. The Fire, an MLS expansion team added in 1997 operating out of Soldier Field, won the 1998 MLS and U.S. Open Cups in its first season of play. He was honored with his first MLS Operations Executive of the Year honor in 2000. He coordinated all Soldier Field game-day activities and managed all league merchandise operations. While in Chicago he served as the venue competition manager for the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the director of operations for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup for games played at Soldier Field.

DeBolt started his career as the director of operations for the United States Interregional Soccer League/United Soccer Leagues, working for the organization based in Tampa, Fla. from 1994-97. He managed the league operations for 155 professional and amateur men's teams. He was named 1995-96 Employee of the Year by the league office.

DeBolt earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from nearby Wittenberg University in 1992. He is also an International Association of Venue Managers graduate in Public Assembly Facility Management from the Venue Management School at Oglebay.