Matt Howdeshell joined the University of Central Missouri as its Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics in June 2023. At his introductory press conference, he stated, “Central Missouri Athletics has a storied tradition, one that we will continue to shape as we honor the past and build the future through work ethic, innovative spirit, and a team mindset.” In Howdeshell’s brief tenure, he has put UCM Athletics on a positive, upward trajectory.

Notable highlights include:

• Shared Vision for the Future: To ensure alignment with university initiatives and shape the athletic department's vision, mission, values, goals, and objectives for the foreseeable future, Howdeshell engaged a broad range of stakeholders in a strategic planning process to create a comprehensive plan to guide the Mules & Jennies over the next five years. During this same period, a long-term athletics master facility planning process was completed, identifying facility needs, priorities, and capital fundraising objectives.
• Student-Athlete Experience: Prioritizing student-athletes’ mental and physical well-being, Howdeshell oversaw many student-athlete wellness initiatives, including: launching The Central Stable Collective, UCM’s first Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Collective, launching UCM’s co-branded marketplace with Opendorse, the first fee-free NIL marketplace in NCAA D-II, establishing UCM’s NIL student-athlete apparel marketplace with INFLUXER, overseeing the creation and construction of UCM’s student-athlete fueling station and nutrition program, and empowering the creation and hiring of a mental health professional dedicated to UCM student-athletes.
• Athletic Excellence: During the 2024-25 athletic seasons, nine Central Missouri teams made NCAA-II postseason appearances, and UCM captured three MIAA championships, two NCAA Division II Regional Championships, and two NCAA Division II National Runner Up finishes. UCM also finished 16th in the final LEARFIELD Director’s Cup standings, marking the 19th straight year that UCM has placed in the top 30. Central Missouri had 78 student-athletes earn MIAA accolades and 21 secure All-American honors. Mules Football quarterback Zach Zebrowski won the 2024 Harlon Hill Trophy, which is presented to the top player in NCAA Division II Football. Zebrowski became only the fifth student-athlete in the history of the award to win it multiple times (also winning in 2023), while UCM became the fifth school to have three award winners. In Howdeshell’s first year at UCM (2023-24), 12 Central Missouri teams made NCAA-II postseason appearances, and UCM captured three MIAA Regular Season Championships, two MIAA Postseason Tournament Titles, and one NCAA Division II Regional Championship. Central Missouri had 80 student-athletes earn All-MIAA accolades and 26 secure All-America honors.
• Academic Achievements: UCM also excelled in the classroom in Howdeshell’s second year, as over 385 Mules and Jennies earned MIAA Academic Honor Roll recognition, and the department earned a 3.26 grade point average (GPA). In Howdeshell’s inaugural year (2023-24), more than 260 Mules and Jennies earned MIAA Academic Honor Roll recognition.
• Facility Enhancements:  In an effort to provide top-tier facilities, Howdeshell has overseen the completion of more than $4 million worth of facility enhancements, including but not limited to: The Harbert Collegiate Golf Center construction, Terry Noland Football Office renovations, Traditions Restaurant at Mules National Golf Club renovations, Jennies Softball stadium turf installation, Walton Stadium lighting upgrades and suite renovations. Additionally, the Multipurpose Building was officially renamed to the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in honor of the late Jerry Hughes, former Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. Central Missouri’s first-ever student-athlete fueling station was also constructed, providing daily nutritional support to all 500+ student-athletes.
• Revenue Generation: UCM Athletics' annual fundraising was rebranded to the Cardinal & Black Fund, leading to membership growing by 187 percent, the annual fund increasing by 97 percent, and quadrupling giving at the highest level. Taymar Sales U was incorporated to assist UCM with maximizing corporate partnership revenue, leading to 45 percent growth. Howdeshell negotiated a five-year apparel contract extension with BSN/Nike, making it the most lucrative apparel contract in the MIAA.
• Fan Experience: Howdeshell oversaw several game day experience enhancements, including implementing alcohol sales at athletic events with the establishment of the Yuengling Flight Deck. Seventy-five percent of UCM’s ticketed sports saw an increase in average attendance, with five of them increasing by more than 10 percent. During the 2024-25 season, Mules Football averaged over 7,500 fans per game, ranking sixth in NCAA Division II. Also, during the 2025 season, Mules Baseball saw an attendance increase of 42 percent. During the 2023 season, Jennies Volleyball set a single-game attendance record. During the 2023-2024 athletic season, UCM also led the MIAA Network in total views.
• Community Engagement: During the 2024-25 academic year, UCM student-athletes, coaches, and staff logged over 5,000 community service hours in and around Warrensburg. These efforts were highlighted by UCM Athletics winning the Warrensburg Main Street and the State of Missouri Main Street’s “Community Partner of the Year Award.” 2024 marked the 33rd year of the “Literacy Team” program, started by the late Jerry Hughes. More than 200 student-athletes (the most ever) read books to students at four Warrensburg elementary schools, gifting over 100 new books to the schools’ libraries. Howdeshell himself is also an active member of the Warrensburg Community, serving on the Warrensburg Military Affairs Committee, and is an active member at Sacred Heart Parish.

Howdeshell serves on the MIAA Network Task Force, MIAA Membership Task Force, and MIAA Strategic Planning Committee, and is the MIAA representative on the NACDA DII Athletic Directors Association Board of Directors.
 

Prior to arriving at Central Missouri, Howdeshell had an impressive 12+ year tenure at Northern Arizona University, where he was part of an athletic program that won 83 conference championships, over 100 post-season appearances, six national championships, numerous coach-of-the-year recipients, and a multitude of academic and athletic all-conference honorees.

While at Northern Arizona, Howdeshell oversaw all aspects of a $25 million operating budget, led $60 million of capital projects, coordinated capital fundraising efforts, served as the football sport administrator, and supervised the athletics business office, strength and conditioning, and video staff.

Howdeshell, who hails from Cuba, Mo., also has a proven ability to generate revenue beyond traditional fundraising. He worked collaboratively with student and university leadership to pass NAU’s first-ever athletic student fee, generating more than $3.1 million in incremental revenue in its first year.

Howdeshell also helped secure the renewal of the department’s apparel contract, the largest in the Big Sky Conference at the time, and NAU’s first-ever multimedia rights partnership with Learfield, which has enhanced NAU Athletics’ visibility, branding, and corporate sponsorship revenue.

In addition, he spearheaded several strategic financial initiatives and was involved in many student-athlete welfare projects relating to gender equity and the student-athlete experience.

Howdeshell previously served NAU as the Associate Athletic Director for Administration and Capital Projects, Assistant Athletic Director for Administration, and as the Director of Football Operations. He began his athletics career as a student manager and video coordinator at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.

The son of two first-generation, non-traditional college students, Howdeshell earned a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State in history education (2010), and a master’s degree in educational leadership (2013), and Doctor of Educational Leadership (2020), with distinction, from NAU.

Howdeshell and his wife, Hiliary, have four sons: Peter, Benjamin, Max, and George.