Evan Derr came to The Ohio State University in 2016 as the Associate Director of Event Management and was promoted the Director of Event & Guest Services for Athletics and for the Jerome Schottenstein Center in 2019. His main responsibility is managing the front-of-house operations at Ohio Stadium, the Schottenstein Center and our other athletic venues.
During his time in Event Management, Derr served as the Game Manager for Softball, Wrestling, Baseball, Swimming & Diving, and Rowing. Derr also served as the Tournament Director or Assistant Tournament Director for numerous B1G and NCAA Championships.
Derr’s main responsibility is providing oversight to 1,400 part-time event staff that serve as ushers and in gate, security, guest services, and club services roles. The part-time event staff work over 500 concerts, sporting events, and facility rental events each year while also providing over 400 behind-the-scenes tours of Ohio Stadium. He also manages various guest relation initiatives that help to improve the overall guest experience at events.
Prior to working for the Buckeyes, Derr worked in community programming and later fundraising events for the American Red Cross from 2011-2016. During his time at the Red Cross, Derr managed a team of 10 volunteers and the first aid/medical response planning for hundreds of Central Ohio festivals, races, sporting events, and concerts. Later moving to the Development team, Derr was responsible for a $1.5M annual special event fundraising budget. Nearly $750,000 was raised annually through four signature events (charity golf outing, business luncheon, hero gala, and women in business auction) in the Columbus area.
A native of Mount Vernon, Ohio and graduate of The Ohio State University, Derr worked as an undergraduate event management intern at the Schottenstein Center from 2008-2011. His wife Chelsea and son CJ reside in Westerville, OH.