YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Paul McFadden’s fundraising career at Youngstown State University started with an unusual offer from Jim Tressel: use his NFL severance while helping prove YSU needs a full-time athletics fundraiser.
McFadden, president of the YSU Foundation, reflects on returning to YSU after his professional football career and a brief stint teaching middle school science. McFadden says Tressel, then YSU’s football coach, approached him with an opportunity to begin fundraising for the university’s athletic department.
McFadden recalls asking Tressel what the position paid. With university funding for the job not yet approved, Tressel initially suggested McFadden use his NFL severance before a graduate assistant opening provided some pay. McFadden says the opportunity marks the beginning of his professional journey at YSU.
His early responsibilities ranged from selling program and radio advertisements to stadium signage and Penguin Club memberships. McFadden also recalls Tressel handing him a list of six endowed athletic scholarships and stressing the importance of building the university’s endowment. Today, YSU athletics has more than 190 endowed scholarships.
Read more in George Nelson’s story HERE.