Melissa DeAngelo Named Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business Strategy/Chief Financial Officer

TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo today announced the appointment of Melissa DeAngelo as Senior Associate Athletic Director for for Business Strategy/Chief Financial Officer. DeAngelo brings more than two decades of experience in financial management and business operations within higher education, including an extensive tenure at Ohio State University.

“Melissa brings a tremendous blend of experience, creativity, and leadership to our department,” said Bryan B. Blair, Vice President and Director of Athletics. “As college athletics continues to evolve, the CFO role requires a strategic thinker who connects financial management to vision and impact. Melissa is a solutions-driven problem solver and trusted advisor who understands how to align resources with priorities and balance innovation with fiscal responsibility.

“Melissa’s background working within presidential and board of trustees offices, along with experience at both Big Ten and SEC institutions, provides a unique perspective that bridges campus, athletics, and enterprise priorities. As an Ohio native, this role is also a meaningful homecoming, and we’re thrilled to welcome Melissa and her family to Team Toledo.”

In her role with the Rockets,  DeAngelo will oversee the day-to-day financial, business, and human resource operations of Toledo Athletics, including budgeting, procurement, and financial planning. As a member of the Executive Staff, she will serve as the department’s Chief Financial Officer and primary liaison to campus business, finance, and HR units, and be a designated sport administrator. In this role, she will provide strategic leadership on fiscal strategy, resource alignment, capital planning, and operational excellence, while also supporting the department’s growing data analytics initiatives led by the new Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Benefits & Data Analytics.

“I’m honored and excited to begin this new chapter with the Toledo Rockets, working alongside Bryan Blair—a visionary leader—and an inspiring athletic department,” said DeAngelo. “The opportunity to contribute, collaborate, and grow alongside this team is truly special. This opportunity is more than a career move—it’s a chance to help shape the future of Rocket Athletics, and returning to Ohio makes it all the more meaningful. I’m excited to build strong relationships, elevate student-athlete experiences, and contribute to a culture of excellence. Go Rockets!”

DeAngelo most recently served as Associate Athletic Director for Business & Finance and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Nevada, where she oversaw all fiscal and business operations for the athletics department. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at the University of Georgia, including Director of Business Operations for the Athletic Association and Financial Manager for the Terry College of Business.

Her career began in 2002 and includes nearly 19 years of service at Ohio State, where she held multiple finance and compliance roles across departments such as University Development, Business and Finance, the Office of the Board of Trustees, and the Office of the President. Her work at Ohio State was marked by strategic oversight of budgets, financial reporting, procurement, and event logistics for high-profile university functions, including athletics-related travel and championship events.

A native of Warren, Ohio, DeAngelo earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Science from Youngstown State University.