FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Craig Tigges has joined Razorback Athletics as a senior associate athletics director and chief financial officer, vice chancellor and director of athletics Hunter Yurachek announced on Friday. In addition, Yurachek announced that Matt Trantham, former senior associate athletics director for capital projects, facility maintenance, grounds and equipment, has been elevated to deputy athletics director.
Tigges comes to Arkansas after spending the last five years at the University of Texas, where he most recently served as assistant athletics director for finance and analytics. Prior to Texas, Tigges spent five years within the athletics business office at the University of Oklahoma. Trantham is in his 16th year with Razorback Athletics after coming to Fayetteville from the University of Oklahoma in 2008.
“We are excited to welcome Craig Tigges to our Razorback Family,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. “Craig’s financial knowledge, forward thinking and experience in various financial roles at both the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas will bring a new and valuable perspective to our senior leadership team. As we move forward in these transformative times within college athletics, it is vital that we explore innovative ways to support our student-athletes, coaches and programs at a level that will allow us to compete for SEC and NCAA titles.”
In his role, Tigges will be responsible for providing strategic oversight of financial operations, budgetary planning and fiscal management for Razorback Athletics. He is member of both the Athletics Director’s cabinet and the department’s senior staff and will also serve as a department liaison to the University of Arkansas campus and system, the Razorback Foundation and other internal and external partners on all matters related to the financial matters of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Tigges received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wayne State College in Nebraska while competing as a football student-athlete and serving as member of the student-athletic advisory committee. Tigges earned his master’s degree in adult and higher education intercollegiate athletics administration from the University of Oklahoma.
“College athletics is at a pivotal time and will shape the landscape of sport across the nation at all levels,” Tigges said. “Our decisions will not only shape college athletics, but the professional, Olympic, and youth landscapes. As we look to innovate our financial model and maintain financial stability through this transformational time, I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to work alongside Hunter, the leadership team, the coaches, and staff at Arkansas. The journey to Arkansas was made possible through experiences around incredible leaders and mentors in life which I am incredibly thankful for and want to say thank you. I look forward to this new chapter with the Razorback Family. Wooo Pig!”
In addition, Yurachek has elevated longtime Razorback administrator Trantham from senior associate to deputy athletics director role. Trantham will continue to oversee facilities, capital projects, event management, grounds and equipment. Trantham has served as the sports administrator for men’s and women’s golf and was recently named the men’s basketball sports administrator to work alongside Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari and his staff.
“Matt has been with the Razorbacks for more than a decade and is a valuable member of our senior administrative team,” Yurachek said. “His expertise and leadership has helped guide us on many important projects and initiatives. Matt assisted me on our men’s basketball head coach search and he will continue to work with that program along with our golf programs as a sport administrator.”
