Virginia Tech has hired Brad Bell to lead the Hokie Club, the university announced Tuesday, tapping a fundraising executive with more than a decade of experience in major gifts at the University of Georgia.
Background and experience
Bell comes to Blacksburg from Athens, Ga., where he worked with the Georgia Bulldog Club for roughly 12 years. He first joined that organization in 2014 as a major gifts officer and rose through several promotions, most recently serving as associate athletic director for major gifts.
| Year | Role / Organization |
|---|---|
| 2012–2014 | Director of private gifts for student affairs, University of Georgia |
| 2014 | Hired as major gifts officer, Georgia Bulldog Club |
| 2015, 2017, 2021 | Promotions culminating in associate AD for major gifts, Georgia Bulldog Club |
| 2007–2012 | Branch manager / assistant VP, Athens First Bank & Trust |
Bell played college football at Furman University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2007. He also holds an MBA from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, completed in 2011.
What the hire means for Virginia Tech athletics
The arrival of Bell marks the first time since 2019 that Virginia Tech has a head of the Hokie Club focused solely on fundraising. Bill Lansden served in that dedicated fundraising role from 2015 to 2019; in recent years those responsibilities were handled by senior athletics administrators who combined fundraising with broader operational duties.
- Brad Wurthman (2019–25), the chief revenue officer, managed fundraising among other external operations.
- Danny White (2025–26), now the athletics chief operating officer, also oversaw fundraising tasks after Lansden’s departure.
Bell is technically the second hire for newly appointed athletic director Brian White, who took the AD job in late June. Earlier in July, White announced the addition of Ryan Gottlieb as deputy athletic director and chief strategy officer after bringing him from Florida Atlantic.
The timing of Bell’s hire comes as the university reported a major development on the fundraising front in June: the establishment of Hokie Ventures and an anonymous $75 million gift — the largest donation in school history. That donation and the organizational changes suggest athletics fundraising will be a priority as Virginia Tech seeks to invest in programs and facilities.
Local and statewide context
Bringing in a professional with extensive major-gift experience follows a broader trend across collegiate athletics: universities hiring specialized fundraisers to secure large private support amid rising costs and competitive facilities races. For Virginia Tech, Bell’s role will be central to converting philanthropic momentum into sustained support for Hokies teams and campus priorities.
Officials did not release further details about Bell’s immediate priorities or an effective start date. The athletic department has been reshaping its leadership team this summer, and Bell’s appointment is the latest move as Virginia Tech positions itself for the next phase of athletics fundraising and development.
