ROLLA, MO  --   Darian Westerfield joined Missouri S&T in January of this year and has already made a significant impact in his first few months. Westerfield brings more than two decades of experience in collegiate sports administration to his position as Assistant Athletic Director for NCAA Compliance. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Darian to our team," said athletic director Melissa Ringhausen, "He brings a wealth of experience from various levels of NCAA institutions, and his diverse background will be instrumental in helping us grow and evolve. His fresh perspective, innovative ideas, and deep understanding of the collegiate athletics landscape will make him a valuable asset as we continue to elevate our programs and provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes."
 
Westerfield comes from Emporia State University where he served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations. His stint with the Hornets came shortly after he spent a season with Northwestern State as their Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs.

Prior to Northwestern, he had spent the past 16 months at Pittsburg State University in Kansas. Westerfield joined the Pitt State staff as the assistant athletic director for external engagement in August 2021 and was promoted to associate AD in July 2022. While at Pitt State, Westerfield oversaw and coordinated all external engagement activities for Gorilla athletics. He served as the department's liaison to Peak Sports Management while also overseeing the Silverback Fund, the Pitt State athletics' annual giving program. During his tenure at Pitt State, Westerfield also served on the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference Basketball Championship Committee.
 
A Missouri native, Westerfield has been an associate athletic director at Drury University (Aug. 2019-May 2020), a senior associate athletic director at Western Illinois (Jan. 2017-April 2018) and St. Bonaventure (Nov. 2013-March 2015) and an assistant athletic director at Eastern Kentucky (Aug. 2018-July 2019) and Morehead State (Oct. 2011-Oct. 2013).
 
Westerfield also has served as the general manager for sports properties at Oral Roberts and Oakland University.
 
He began his collegiate athletics career as an athletic annual giving coordinator at the University of Memphis in March 2002.
 
A 1997 graduate of Lindenwood University in political science, public administration and non-profit management and a 1999 Missouri State University master's of public administration graduate, Westerfield began his athletics administration career as an intern with the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority from August 1999-May 2000.