USD-Magazine-Spring-2025

I n a quiet moment before a men’s basketball game, University of San Diego Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey stands in the top corner of the Jenny Craig Pavilion, his keen anthropologist’s eye taking in every detail of the scene before him. The empty seats pain him — not just as an administrator who has a duty to grow revenue but as an academic who understands how culture and community play a vital role in the success of an athletics program. “It kills me,” said Massey, his voice carrying a sense of determination. “I see how hard our athletes work all week, how hard our coaches work. We have to change this.” The name Kimya means silent strength in Swahili — a fitting description for his personality. Though he has an outgoing disposition now, Massey was a quiet and introspective child, more focused on listening and observing than being in the spotlight. “I’m always assessing and evaluating,” said Massey, whose biracial background sparked his early interest in observing cultural dynamics. “In leadership, you’re constantly being scrutinized — how you manage situations, both positive and challenging. That analytical mindset, that ability to step back and really understand a situation before acting — it’s still core to who I am.” For Massey, who took the helm of USD Athletics in February 2024, filling those seats represents more than just a business challenge. It’s about creating what anthropologists call shared cultural touchstones — the traditions, rituals and communal experiences that bind a community together.

“ Yes, we want to win championships — winning matters. But we’re also focused on ensuring [student-athletes] get their degrees and are prepared for life after sports. We’re educators first.”

His perspective is colored by experience. Massey earned two degrees from Michigan State University — a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and sociology and a master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis on sports administration. His academic background now informs his unique approach to athletic administration. “People hear that I majored in anthropology and sociology and wonder how that relates to sports,” Massey said, with a knowing smile. “But I use that training every single day. Athletics is all about understanding cultures and subcultures, about how different groups interact and form identity.” As a graduate assistant in Michigan State’s life skills department, Massey took a pivotal step toward his current role. A mentor suggested he write down what he would like to become one day. He simply wrote, “athletic director.” That card has followed him through positions at Indiana University, the University of Memphis, the University of Central Florida and, most recently, at Oregon State University, where he served as deputy athletic director and chief operating officer. Massey enters the role of athletic director at USD in an era when college sports faces unprecedented challenges. While it might be easy to become swept up in the complexities of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), revenue sharing and conference realignment, Massey takes a more holistic view. His mantra? “Keep the main thing the main thing.” “The main thing is supporting our athletes — in mind, body and soul,” he explained. “Yes, we want to win

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