On Aug. 30, 2021, Washburn Director of Athletics Loren Ferré and President of Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation Marshall Meek announced the hiring of Matt Hutchinson as Associate Athletic Director/Director of Development, moving from his previous position of Assistant Athletics Director for External Relations, a position he held inside at Washburn athletics since May of 2018.
Hutchinson has garnered national and local recognition for his work at Washburn. He is a graduate of the 2024-25 NCAA Pathway Program, a year-long learning opportunity designed to help prepare participants for roles as athletics directors or conference commissioners. In 2023, he was selected as one of 100 senior administrators to take part in the NACDA Senior Administrator Mentorship Program across all levels and was named a Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40 honoree. Hutchinson was named a NextGen Under 30 award winner in the state of Kansas for 2022. His external resume has included three national awards designated by NACMA, including Best Intro Video (2018 Football), Best Fan Engagement Video (2018-19 Hype Video), and Best Community Engagement and Public Relations Program (Bods Care).
Outside of Washburn, Matt has been a consultant with the MIAA Conference Office and NAIA National Office for the last ten years. During his tenure, the NAIA National Office’s "Teaming Up For Character" program earned 2017-18 National Program of the Year honors. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Rockhurst University since the fall 2021 semester.
A native of Topeka, Kan., Hutchinson was a men’s basketball student-athlete at Rockhurst University before serving on staff as the Assistant to the Athletic Director / Assistant Men’s Basketball coach. He is a three-time graduate of Rockhurst , earning his undergraduate, master's, and doctorate degrees from the university.
Hutchinson is involved in the Topeka community, including service on the board of the 20/30 Club of Topeka, Topeka Area Sports Commission, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Topeka. In August 2023, he served as the youngest 20/30 Gala Chair in the event's 25-year history. Matt also serves on the MIAA Basketball Tournament Committee and is a member of NAADD. His dad was an assistant under coach Bob Chipman when the Ichabods won the 1987 NAIA National Championship, and his mom serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing at the university.
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