Carl Reed currently serves as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities, Operations, and Capital Projects at Sacramento State - a role he has held since June of 2022.
A member of the department’s senior leadership team, Reed oversees athletic facilities, event operations, capital planning, equipment services, information technology, security, and risk management. His responsibilities include guiding capital projects from concept through completion, managing deferred maintenance strategies, and overseeing athletic conference championships, NCAA Championships, and external events.
Since arriving at Sacramento State, Reed has overseen more than $30 million in new and renovated facilities, including a football press box renovation, a gymnastics facility project, and the renovation of the WELL and Hornet Pavilion. He manages a combined operating budget of approximately $7 million and serves as sport administrator for multiple programs while representing Athletics on numerous campus-wide committees and initiatives.
Reed brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in intercollegiate athletics, including over 23 years at the senior management level. Prior to Sacramento State, he spent five years at Santa Clara University as Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Administration and Student Services. There, he supervised multiple sports programs, advised the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and served as a primary liaison to campus partners, including housing, campus safety, student life, and Title IX. He also led the department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts and was part of the management team that designed and delivered the Athletic Excellence Center.
Earlier in his career, Reed held senior facilities and event management roles at the University of Southern California, Stanford University, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the University of San Diego. At USC, he served as Assistant Athletic Director and General Manager of the Galen Center, overseeing all athletic and non-athletic events, managing a $6.5 million budget, and generating approximately $1.7 million in annual revenue through external bookings.
At Stanford, he managed department-wide event operations and supervised capital projects totaling over $275 million, including the renovations to Stanford Stadium and Maples Pavilion. Reed also served as the Founding Director of Athletics at Cal State Channel Islands, where he built the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program from the ground up, authored a long-range strategic plan, and led early fundraising and facility planning efforts.
Across his career, Reed has overseen budgets as large as $10.5 million, supervised staffs exceeding 100 employees, and guided more than $400 million in new construction and renovation projects. He is known for building strong campus and community partnerships, forming long-term institutional alliances, and delivering complex facilities in demanding environments. Reed holds a master’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and a bachelor’s degree in Government from Saint Mary’s College of California.
