University of New Hampshire Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Deputy Director of Athletics, External Operations
- Email:
- Phone:
- 603-862-4677
Fumi Kimura was hired as the Deputy Director of Athletics, External Operations on Dec. 16, 2022, and started in the role on Jan. 9, 2023.
A public relations executive with more than 20 years of experience, Fumi joined the Wildcat Athletics family after spending four years as an Associate Athletic Director at the University of Pittsburgh.Â
Kimura is a member of the department’s senior leadership team with oversight of marketing, brand management, revenue generation (including ticketing and sponsorships through Wildcat Sports Properties), media relations, strategic communications, multimedia, and broadcast. She is responsible for the strategic development and execution of initiatives within these areas to go along with sports administration assignments.
At Pitt, Kimura served as the Associate Athletic Director, Culture, Diversity, and Engagement (2020-22) and previously as the Associate Athletic Director, Administration (2019-20). She was Director of Athletics Heather Lyke’s liaison to the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor’s Senior Leadership Team, and a member of the Executive Team. Kimura, who was a lead member of the committee that developed the athletic department’s new strategic plan, was the University’s NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee, a member of the LEAD1 Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and an ACC CORE Unity Tour Planning Committee member.
Fumi worked directly with department and campus partners, the NCAA, and the ACC on promoting an inclusive environment through dialogue, education, and positive action. Additionally, she coordinated and facilitated internal and personal communications on behalf of the Director of Athletics, which included managing numerous speaking engagements and public appearances. She took the lead on developing a new department EDI strategic plan.
From 2015-18, Kimura was the Senior Director, Public Relations & Communications for FC Cincinnati. She helped build one of the hottest soccer franchises in North America, leading to receipt of an invitation to join Major League Soccer in less than three years. Executing and overseeing the franchise’s public relations strategy, she produced over $1 million in earned local media value in 2016. Kimura developed and led the External Communications group, collaborating with production, graphic design, marketing, merchandise, ticketing, and web design to ensure dynamic and consistent messaging across all areas. She drafted and managed all internal and external communications for the club, was a key member of the team tasked with assembling the MLS’s extensive expansion application, and collaborated with the local civic group created to present Cincinnati as an Official Host City for the 2026 World Cup.
Prior to joining FC Cincinnati, Fumi was an Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at her alma mater, the University of California, Irvine (2001-15), serving as the primary contact for the nationally ranked baseball team and women’s volleyball team. She also had three stints as the press officer for the U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team.
Kimura, who graduated from UC Irvine with degrees in Japanese and Russian, spent nearly three years living overseas in Japan and Spain.
