Frank Cuervo has been named director of athletics at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the university announced Monday.
Cuervo brings 26 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, marked by leadership roles across all Division I institutions — FBS, FCS, and I-AAA. He comes to UA Little Rock from the University of Illinois Chicago, where he was the deputy director of athletics/chief revenue officer.
During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in community engagement and driving revenue and fundraising. He also contributed to significant growth in ticket sales, donor engagement and overall athletic success, UA Little Rock said in a news release.
Cuervo previously served in senior-level administrative, fundraising and revenue-generating roles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Missouri State, Indiana and Missouri.
At UA Little Rock, he follows George Lee, who had been athletics director since 2019 and oversaw the athletics program’s move from the Sun Belt Conference to the Ohio Valley Conference. Lee announced in September that he was stepping down to return his previous role as a senior associate athletic director.
“Frank Cuervo is uniquely qualified to lead Little Rock Trojans Athletics into the future,” Chancellor Christina Drale said in a statement. “His extensive experience, coupled with a proven track record of success in enhancing athletic programs and developing strong community and university relationships, makes him the ideal choice for this critical role.”
Cuervo holds a master’s in education with a specialization in sports management from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s in marketing and public relations from the University of Florida, where he was also a walk-on member of the baseball team.
“UA Little Rock is an institution, and an athletics program, that is on the rise, and I welcome the opportunity to work with our supporters to shape its future,” Cuervo said. “We want to build a program the people of Arkansas can be proud of, striving for comprehensive excellence in the classroom, in the community, and in competition, as we compete for championships and place the Trojans on a national stage.
“I am eager to partner with our 275 talented student-athletes, our elite group of head coaches, and the entire athletics and campus administration, as we utilize athletics as a vehicle to highlight all the incredible things happening at this world-class institution. The future for Little Rock has never been brighter. Go Trojans!”
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