Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Athletic Director, Facilities & Event Management
- Email:
- Phone:
- 247-1792
Updated July 17, 2025
A proven administrator in the collegiate event and facility operations realm, Richard Dempsey enters his fourth year with Tulane Athletics as the Green Wave’s Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Event Management. In his current role, Dempsey oversees all capital projects/enhancements, daily facility operations and event operations for all home intercollegiate athletic contests. Additionally, Dempsey, a member of Tulane Athletics’ administrative staff, has served as a sport administrator with the Tulane Baseball program since fall 2023.
During his three years Uptown, Dempsey has served as the lead point-of-contact for the university for home Football gamedays, including serving as the championship administrator for both the 2022 and 2023 American Conference Football Championship games hosted at Yulman Stadium.
Dempsey has been instrumental in elevating the overall gameday experience and enacting policies and procedures related to fan experience and safety and security for all Tulane athletic events hosted on the Uptown campus. In his day-to-day role, Dempsey manages facility operations, including maintenance, turf and grounds, audio and visual, video boards and systems, information technology, branding and custodial operations.Â
Moreover, Dempsey oversees multiple third-party partnerships on behalf of Tulane Athletics, including custodial, concessions/catering, event staffing and security, law enforcement and parking management. Dempsey works with multiple units throughout Tulane’s campus and the community to ensure that internal operations and logistics are coordinated to the benefit of Green Wave Athletics. During his time at Tulane, Dempsey has served as the lead point-of-contact from the university for the NFL/Super Bowl LIX, the Black College Football Hall-of-Fame HBCU Legacy Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Bowl, New Orleans Saints/Pelicans, etc.
Furthermore, Dempsey has led a revitalization of Tulane’s athletic facilities on the capital enhancement front. As the lead point-of-contact for Tulane Athletics for numerous capital projects, Dempsey has overseen more than $25M in enhancements, including:
Yulman Stadium
- Creation of Party on the Plaza (2022)
- Benson Field Turf Replacement (2023)
- Concessions Enhancements (2024)
- NE Digital Video Board Upgrade (2024)
- Tulane Golf Locker Room Renovation (2025)
- LED Color-Changing Stadium Lighting Upgrade (2025)
- Construction of Uptown Terrace Premium Seating Sections (2025)
- Greer Field Turf Replacement (2024)
- Renovation of Theresa Sofio Hitting Facility (2024)
- Renovation of Tulane Baseball Wet Locker Room & Dugout (2024)
- Construction of Tulane Golf Practice Area (2025)
- Concessions Enhancements (2025)
- Replacement of Outfield Padding (2025)
- “Phase I” Building Renovation of Tulane Football Locker Room, The Earl “Bubba” Porche Athletic Training Room, Hydrotherapy Room & Male/Female Staff Locker Rooms (2023)
- Renovation of the Tulane Baseball Retif Clubhouse (2023)
- “Phase II” Building Renovation of Atrium/Lobby, Football Operations Office Wing, Olympic Sport Locker Room Hallway & Olympic Sport Coaches’ Offices Hallway (2024)
- Renovation of Weight Room (2023)
- Renovation of Team Film Room (2023)
- Redesign & Resurface of Basketball Practice Courts (2024)
- Comprehensive Branding Upgrade to Gymnasium (2025)
- Renovation of Tulane Bowling & Beach Volleyball Locker Room (2025)
- Implementation of Tulane Volleyball Taraflex Court (2023)
- Refresh of Premium Club (2024)
- Redesign & Resurface of Basketball Competition Court (2025)
- Renovation of Athletic Training Room (2025)
- Renovation of Natatorium (2023)
- Construction of Tulane Swimming & Diving Locker Room (2024)
Dempsey currently serves as the main point-of-contact for the Green Wave for the construction of the Enclosed Practice Field in the Claiborne Lot as well as the Goldring Tennis Center at University Square; both projects are anticipated to be completed during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Prior to joining the Green Wave, Dempsey served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Event and Facility Operations with Wake Forest University Athletics. During his time in Winston-Salem, Dempsey served as a lead point-of-contact for Demon Deacon Football and Men’s Basketball event and facility operations. Additionally, Dempsey oversaw numerous NCAA championship postseason events and assisted with fan experience initiatives.
Prior to his stint with Wake Forest, Dempsey served in numerous ascending capacities for nearly eight years with LSU Athletics Game/Event Management. At the time of his departure from LSU in March of 2021, Dempsey oversaw event operations for LSU Baseball and Gymnastics and was a lead point-of-contact for Football event operations. Due to his work with the LSU Gymnastics program, Dempsey was named the 2021 Region 1 Administrator of the Year by the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA). While at LSU, Dempsey oversaw all of LSU Athletics Guest Services initiatives as well as its partnership with a third-party event staffing firm.
A New Orleans native, Dempsey graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in 2013. A four-year member of the Wolfpack Baseball team, Dempsey was a multiple-time NAIA Academic All-American. Dempsey received his master’s degree from LSU in 2015.
Dempsey, a Jesuit High School graduate, resides in the Lake Vista neighborhood of New Orleans with his wife Dr. Heather Dempsey.
