UTEP Miners

Mark Gisbertz Returns to UTEP as Associate Athletic Director for Development

7/17/2023 11:15:00 AM

EL PASO, Texas -- Mark Gisbertz has returned to UTEP as Associate Athletic Director for Development. Gisbertz previously served as Director of Operations for the Miner men's basketball program from 2018-21.

"We are very excited that Mark is back with the Miners," Charley Thrash, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation said. "The UTEP fan base will enjoy getting to know him, and he will be a great representative of Miner Athletics. With Mark's help, we look forward to taking UTEP Athletics and the Miner Athletic Club to new heights and continuing to enhance our student-athlete experience."

"I would like to thank Jim Senter and Charley Thrash for this opportunity," Gisbertz said. "El Paso is a special place with a rich history and tradition, but also a bright future. I look forward to reconnecting with many of the folks I was fortunate enough to meet in my previous time here, and also establishing new relationships on campus and in the community. We have great leadership in place here at UTEP, and I believe in Jim's vision for the department."

In-between stints with the Miners, Gisbertz worked in a sales position for Grimmway Farms, a large agriculture company. In this role, he enhanced relationships with customers and helped to build the company's worldwide brand, while gaining valuable sales knowledge.

With Gisbertz on staff, the Miner men's basketball program notched 17 wins during the 2019-20 campaign, a nine-game improvement from the previous season. UTEP also doubled its number of Conference USA victories. UTEP's top player, Bryson Williams, was named to the 2020 All-CUSA first team and earned District 11 NABC first team honors.

Gisbertz spent seven years on basketball staff at Fresno State, working his way up to graduate assistant (2014-16) and Director of Player Development (2016-18). His efforts were instrumental in the Bulldogs posting four 20-win seasons in his last five years with the program, and making three postseason tournament appearances (CBI 2014, NCAA 2016, NIT 2017). In 2016, Fresno State won the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship for its first league title in 13 years.

In the last two seasons with Gisbertz as Director of Player Development, Fresno State had a couple of All-MWC players in Deshon Taylor (third team 2017) and Bryson Williams (third team 2018). Taylor joined the Bulldogs' Jaron Hopkins on the MWC All-Defensive Team during that stretch.

A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Gisbertz earned his bachelor's degree from Fresno State in May, 2014.

Print Friendly Version