June 19, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. - Brant Ust, who has served as Assistant Athletics Director and Executive Director of the Monogram Club at the University of Notre Dame, has been named an Associate Athletics Director for Administration at Auburn, Director of Athletics Allen Greene announced Tuesday. In this newly created role, Ust's purview will encompass a wide range of responsibilities that contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of day-to-day operations.
"I am truly appreciative of the professional experiences and opportunities I've had while at Notre Dame," Ust said. "I would like to thank Allen Greene and Marcy Girton for the opportunity to join the Auburn family and am excited to begin working to deliver the best experience for student-athletes, coaches and the Auburn community. War Eagle!"
Under Ust's guidance, the Monogram Club targeted ways to expand its impact with membership and current Notre Dame student-athletes. The Club's career development program, the Monogram Career Network (MCN), was in its infancy when Ust took over as executive director in 2014. The MCN now has over 500 national advocates who are actively assisting current and former student-athletes through the career discernment process in collaboration with Student Welfare and Development and the Career Center.
Over the last four years, Ust played a vital role in delivering on one of the Monogram Club's top priorities, which was to increase its engagement with members across the nation. With Ust as executive director, the Monogram Club held events in over 20 cities across the United States that brought together the Club's diverse membership.
"We are excited to welcome Brant and his family to The Plains," Greene said. "He is an accomplished administrator with a dynamic personality who will add value to Auburn Athletics. Daily, we're building Auburn men and women, and Brant's intercollegiate and professional athletic experiences set him apart from the field. Simply put, the Auburn Family just got better."
Another major Monogram Club initiative that experienced growth under Ust's leadership was the Brennan-Boland-Riehle Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarship assistance to the sons and daughters of Monogram winners who attend Notre Dame. The fund increased its market value from $7.17 million to $8.25 million. That gain made it possible for the Club to assist additional students, along with raising the qualifying dollar amount issued to eligible recipients.
Additionally, Ust continued the Monogram Club's strong relationship with the Notre Dame athletics department, providing the department with funding for postgraduate scholarships, team reunions, awards and unique cultural and educational opportunities for student-athletes. During Ust's term as executive director the Monogram Club celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016, where throughout the year the Club, its members and its legacy were all part of the centennial celebration.
Ust is a three-time baseball Monogram winner and 2001 graduate of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business.
In addition to managing the Monogram Club's staff, activities, membership outreach and engagement, Ust collaborated closely with the Board of Directors to establish the Club's priorities and goals. Additionally, he oversaw special events and reunions involving former student-athletes throughout the year. Ust also served as the Sport Administrator for the men's golf team and as vice-chair of the ACC's Men's Golf committee.
In 2018, Ust participated in the Sports Management Institute. Ust is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). He also served as a member of the athletic department's Diversity & Inclusion Council and was the Notre Dame representative within the National Letter Winners Association (NLWA).
Prior to Notre Dame, Ust worked with USA Baseball from 2010-14, where he served as Director of the 18U National Team Program & Alumni Relations. Under his leadership, the 18U National Team won gold medals at the 2011 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships in Cartagena, Colombia, the 2012 IBAF 18U World Championships in Seoul, South Korea and the 2013 IBAF 18U World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan.
Ust also helped to reconnect USA Baseball with its former players and coaches, while building awareness for the organization's brand and future endeavors.
Selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 1999 MLB draft, Ust enjoyed a nine-year professional baseball career within the Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners organizations. He was a member of USA Baseball's 1998 Collegiate National Team and 2005 IBAF World Cup Team while also donning the jersey for the Great Britain National Team in 2007 at the CEB European Championships and in 2009 at the IBAF World Cup.
Before joining the USA Baseball staff, Ust was as an assistant coach on the University of Michigan baseball staff after having served as a coach within the strength and conditioning department.
As an infielder at Notre Dame, Ust became one of the most decorated players in program history, earning BIG EAST Rookie of the Year honors in 1997, while taking home the conference's Player of the Year award in 1998. He also earned third-team All-America recognition from the ABCA, Baseball America and NCBWA. In 1999, he was named the team's Monogram Club MVP.
A three-time BIG EAST first-team selection, Ust started 179 consecutive games, and finished his Irish career with a .368 batting average, 51 doubles, 46 home runs and 170 RBI.
A native of Redmond, Wash., Ust and his wife, Jessica, have three children, Gavin, Sullivan and Kellen.