President Marc Johnson announced that he has elevated Ryan Mitchell to the position of senior associate athletics director for intercollegiate services and special assistant to the president.

Mitchell, who joined the Wolf Pack athletics department in 2014, had been serving as the department's associate athletics director for compliance. He replaces Brian Barrio, who was recently named athletics director of Central Connecticut State.

In this role, Mitchell will oversee all aspects of the Wolf Pack's academic and compliance operations. He also serves as the department's administrator for women's soccer, women's swimming and diving and the men's golf programs.

"Ryan has shown a great deal of maturity and care in his prior role and is now ready to take on this broader and deeper assignment within our University," Johnson said. "He has all of the experience, leadership and fundamental core values that one needs to succeed in this type of role. Although compliance and academic support is run by athletics administrators, with secondary reporting lines to athletics director Doug Knuth, this position reports directly to the Office of the President, which maintains the integrity of the role and ensures that Ryan can do the most objective job possible. Ryan has a very clear understanding of the unique nature of this position. He is well-suited, given his previous successes and the increasing responsibilities that he's handled so well here on our campus, to do an excellent job.

"I wish also to thank Brian Barrio for his service to the University. He is to be commended for the excellent work he did with compliance and academic support services. We wish Brian and his family the very best in his new position."

Mitchell came to Nevada in 2014 as the director of compliance. After just more than a year here, Mitchell earned the title of assistant athletic director of compliance and later was promoted to associate athletics director. In that role, he provided daily oversight of NCAA compliance efforts at Nevada. Prior to coming to Nevada, he served as a compliance coordinator for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

"President Johnson made a great decision and I'm excited about the continuity and continued growth in these areas," Knuth said. "Ryan is a tireless worker and a terrific advocate for our athletics program and our student-athletes. We're thrilled for his continued service to our University."

A native of Walla Walla, Wash., Mitchell played basketball at Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he earned his degree in sociology with a minor in education in 2008. He graduated magna cum laude from Seattle University of Law in 2012.

"I'm incredibly thankful to both President Johnson and Doug Knuth for their confidence in me to lead our academic and compliance efforts," Mitchell said. "I'd be remiss if I didn't also thank both Maureen Marshall for bringing me to the University and Brian Barrio for his mentorship over the last couple of years. Without their guidance I wouldn't be where I am today. I couldn't be more excited with where are our department is headed as the Wolf Pack continues our upward trajectory in the Mountain West. There is much work ahead, but I look forward to reinforcing our already strong compliance efforts and continuing our student-athlete academic performance."