Opio Mashariki has spent more than two decades in collegiate athletics administration, building a career defined by leadership, institutional knowledge, strategic growth and a commitment to the student-athlete experience. A longtime member of the Savannah State University Athletics family, Mashariki has served as the University's Director of Athletics since January 2019 after previously holding several leadership positions within the department.
Mashariki's tenure as Director of Athletics has coincided with one of the most transformative periods in Savannah State Athletics history. He helped lead the University's transition from NCAA Division I to Division II and its return to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), working closely with University leadership, the NCAA and conference officials to successfully navigate the transition and establish a foundation for Savannah State's future.
Under Mashariki's leadership, Savannah State Athletics has continued to strengthen its competitive standing within the SIAC while placing an increased emphasis on student-athlete development, academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, branding, facilities, community engagement and the overall visibility of the department.
His impact was immediate. During his first year as Director of Athletics, Mashariki helped reduce the Athletics Department's deficit by approximately $1.5 million while overseeing Savannah State's return to Division II competition. He also hired head football coach Shawn Quinn, who guided the Tigers to a 7-3 overall record and an undefeated 5-0 mark against SIAC competition during the 2019 season.
Mashariki has continued to guide Savannah State through a period of growth and competitive success across its athletics programs. During his tenure, Tiger student-athletes and teams have earned conference championships, postseason appearances, All-SIAC recognition and national honors, further establishing Savannah State as a competitive presence within NCAA Division II and the SIAC.
Beyond competition, Mashariki has worked to strengthen the infrastructure and long-term stability of Savannah State Athletics. His administration has emphasized revenue generation, corporate partnerships, fundraising, licensing and branding opportunities while continuing to enhance the game-day experience and visibility of Tiger Athletics. He has also championed improvements designed to provide Savannah State student-athletes, coaches and staff with the resources necessary to compete and succeed.
Mashariki's extensive knowledge of Savannah State Athletics was developed through nearly 15 years of service to the University before becoming Director of Athletics. He joined Savannah State in March 2005 as Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations, overseeing communications and publicity efforts for the University's intercollegiate athletics programs. In that role, he managed media relations for 15 sports, coordinated coverage of home athletic events, expanded the department's digital and social media presence and helped produce some of the first comprehensive media guides and publications for Savannah State Athletics.
His responsibilities continued to grow throughout his career. In 2017, Mashariki was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations, adding sport supervision and additional administrative responsibilities to his communications duties. He provided oversight for men's and women's basketball, softball and volleyball while also assisting with sports medicine, strength and conditioning and equipment operations.
Mashariki also played a significant role in developing and protecting the Savannah State Athletics brand. As the department's licensing and branding strategist, he helped expand the visibility and commercial use of Savannah State Athletics marks while creating additional revenue opportunities for the department. His combination of institutional experience and administrative leadership led to his appointment as Interim Director of Athletics in August 2018 before he was officially named Director of Athletics in January 2019.
Before arriving at Savannah State, Mashariki began his career at his alma mater, Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University), where he spent six years working in sports information. He progressed from an intern to Assistant Sports Information Director and eventually Interim Sports Information Director. His responsibilities included coordinating press conferences, managing media operations and developing internal and external communications for the athletics department.
Mashariki has also demonstrated an ability to secure resources that directly benefit Savannah State student-athletes and staff. Among those efforts, he served as the lead writer for an NCAA grant that provided funding for new technology and computers for the Athletics Department.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Mashariki earned a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations from Bethune-Cookman in 2001.
With a career spanning communications, branding, sport administration, fiscal management and executive leadership, Mashariki has developed a comprehensive understanding of collegiate athletics from the ground up. His tenure at Savannah State reflects a continued commitment to building championship-caliber programs, enhancing the student-athlete experience and positioning Tiger Athletics for sustained success while representing the history and tradition of Savannah State University.
