BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Paul McCarthy, an experienced senior athletics administrator and attorney with an extensive background in higher education has been named Deputy Director of Athletics at LIU, it was announced Tuesday.

McCarthy is returning home to the tri-state area from his position as Athletics General Counsel in the University of Mississippi athletics department, and brings more than 25 years of experience and expertise to the Sharks, including serving as the Deputy Director of Athletics at the University of Connecticut for five years.

"I'm tremendously excited to work for and with President Kimberly Cline and Director of Athletics Dr. William E. Martinov Jr. as part of a great team of staff members committed to advancing the athletics department and the University as a national academic institution," McCarthy said. "From a focus on academic achievement and a championship student-athlete experience to the partnership with Roc Nation, LIU is an academic institution that is living and executing its mission of excellence every day, and I'm honored to join the community."

In his position as Deputy Director of Athletics, McCarthy reports to Director of Athletics Dr. William E. Martinov Jr., and will have responsibility for the leadership and management of both the internal and external operations of the LIU athletic department.

"We're excited that Paul has joined our team here at LIU," Martinov said. "Paul brings a strong and successful background in Division I administrative experience that will help lead our department to new levels. We welcome Paul and his family to Shark Nation!" 

McCarthy brings more than 25 years of experience and expertise to LIU from a career spanning private legal practice, higher education legal matters and senior administrative positions within collegiate athletics. At Ole Miss, he reported directly to the University Chancellor as Athletics General Counsel and Athletics Compliance Officer, providing oversight and leadership for all legal and risk management matters and compliance efforts for Ole Miss Athletics.


Prior to his time at Ole Miss, McCarthy was at the University of Connecticut, where he served with both the athletics leadership team and the office of general counsel during two decades on staff. A UConn graduate, McCarthy was in private practice for four years before returning to his alma mater in 1998. He held multiple senior positions with the university's legal team including chief legal officer from 2003 to 2006, before transitioning to the athletics department in 2006, initially as senior associate athletics director, before being elevated and serving as deputy athletics director from 2011-2016.

In 10 years with the Huskies, McCarthy led a number of major transactional projects and all contractual agreements, including Nike, IMG College, stadium and arena leases, and coaches' contracts. He also supervised department legal affairs and risk management, provided oversight to the NCAA compliance office, served on multiple university committees, and was sport administrator for national championship men's and women's basketball programs.

Paul and his wife, Tina, have three children – Aidan, Sean and Catherine.