Staff Directory

Wayne Simien

Title:
Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Basketball Advancement
Email:
Phone:
864-3946

Wayne Simien joined Kansas Athletics in August 2021 and currently serves as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Basketball Advancement. In this role, Simien is a member of the department’s senior leadership, fundraising and basketball leadership teams, helping advance philanthropic support, strengthen key constituent relationships and contribute to the long-term strategic success of Kansas Athletics and its basketball programs.

Simien manages a portfolio of high-impact donors and prospective donors while cultivating relationships that generate philanthropic support for Kansas Athletics’ highest priorities. His development work has contributed to record-setting fundraising efforts supporting transformational projects at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse, as well as broader initiatives related to student-athlete support, premium seating and revenue generation.

As a member of the Kansas Basketball front office, Simien provides strategic insight and industry perspective while helping strengthen connections among the program, its supporters and former student-athletes. His unique perspective as both a former Kansas All-American and professional athlete allows him to serve as an important bridge between the program’s tradition, current priorities and future vision.

Simien also serves as a member of Kansas Athletics’ executive leadership team, collaborating with senior administrators, coaches and campus partners on departmental strategy and key initiatives. Upon joining Kansas Athletics, he served on the advisory committee for the department’s strategic plan, ‘To the Stars’, helping define organizational values and strategic priorities that continue to guide the department. He has also contributed to leadership development initiatives for student-athletes and staff and has participated in several key coaching searches and departmental projects.

Beyond Kansas Athletics, Simien serves on the Big 12 Alumni Council, where he provides perspective and strategic input to conference leadership and supports initiatives designed to strengthen the Big 12 and the student-athlete experience. He has also collaborated with the Big 12 Business Advisory Council and remains actively engaged in mentoring student-athletes and developing emerging leaders.

Prior to joining Kansas Athletics, Simien spent 12 years in campus ministry and nonprofit leadership while maintaining a strong connection to the University and its athletics programs.

A native of Leavenworth, Kansas, Simien was a two-time All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year during his playing career at Kansas. Playing under Hall of Fame coaches Roy Williams and Bill Self, he helped lead the Jayhawks to three Big 12 championships and two Final Four appearances. He graduated from KU in 2005 with a degree in sociology before being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. Simien was a member of Miami’s 2006 NBA Championship team and later continued his professional career internationally.

Simien’s No. 23 jersey was retired by Kansas on January 29, 2011, and hangs in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse. He also shares his basketball experience and perspective as a color analyst for Kansas basketball broadcasts on ESPN+.

Wayne and his wife, Katie, have five children.

PERSONAL INFO - Follow
Alma Mater: University of Kansas (2005)
Hometown: Leavenworth, Kansas

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2026-Present: Kansas (Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Basketball Advancement)
2025-26: Kansas (Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Engagement)
2021-25: Kansas (Associate Athletics Director for Engagement and Outreach)
2009-21: Called to Greatness (Co-Founder and Development Director)
2008-09: Caceres Basket Spain (Professional Basketball Player)
2005-08: Miami Heat (Professional Basketball Player)