Mark Wright serves as Associate Vice President and Deputy Athletics Director for the ChargeOn Fund—the university’s primary fundraising entity. Since joining UCF in May 2013 as Assistant Vice President and Senior Associate AD for Development, Wright has played a pivotal role in elevating the Knights' fundraising efforts to new heights.
A veteran athletics administrator with more than two decades of experience, Wright has overseen a development department that has consistently set new fundraising records. Under his leadership, the UCF Athletics fundraising team has achieved unprecedented success, securing over $350 million in cash and pledge commitments during his tenure—including an all-time high of $49 million in FY24.
Throughout his time at UCF, Wright has also led strategic initiatives and managed sport programs. He rebuilt the university’s ticket sales and service team, closed several long-term corporate partnerships, and played a key role in shaping two critical strategic plans that helped transition UCF from Conference USA to the AAC and now into the Big XII. With more than 30 years of progressive experience across the SEC, Big Ten, Big XII, Big East, Atlantic 10, and Atlantic Sun, Wright brings deep expertise in development, external relations, strategic planning, campaign leadership, facilities planning and construction, coaching, sports marketing and supervision, ticket sales, and alumni engagement.
Wright currently oversees UCF Athletics’ development and fundraising department, while also crafting and implementing strategic solicitation plans to boost donations and broaden the donor base. He leads stewardship efforts for all athletics donors and collaborates closely with the athletics ticket sales and service team, offering leadership to meet revenue and service goals—particularly in premium seating. Wright also oversees the Varsity Knights, UCF’s organization of former student-athletes.
Before joining UCF, Wright was the Managing Director of Development for Athletics at Marquette University, where he led fundraising strategies for annual, discretionary, endowed, and capital initiatives. Over his four years at Marquette, his team secured more than $21 million in annual, endowed, and major gifts. During his tenure, the athletic endowment nearly tripled and annual giving increased by 56 percent.
Previously, Wright spent four years (2005–09) as Associate Athletic Director for Development at Saint Louis University, where he led the fundraising campaign for the $81 million Chaifetz Arena project. The development team exceeded its $50 million goal, and Wright also oversaw the athletic annual fund, which grew by 295%. He served as sport administrator for both baseball and softball during his time there.
From 2002 to 2005, Wright was Director of Development for Ohio State University Athletics. Prior to that, he worked as Associate Director of the National Commodore Club at Vanderbilt University (1999–2002), and as Director of Development at Mercer University (1996–99). Wright began his fundraising career at Mercer following roles as an admissions counselor and athletics eligibility coordinator (1995–96), and assistant baseball coach (1992–94). He also previously worked as a financial analyst for SunTrust Banks.
Wright holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration/finance from Mercer, where he was also a pitcher for the Bears’ baseball team. He and his wife, Erin, have one child, Marin, who will be playing soccer at the University of North Texas in the fall.