Bobby Purcell - Special Assistant to the AD - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Bobby Purcell

Title:
Special Assistant to the AD
Email:
Phone:
(919) 515-1630

Bobby Purcell has served in a number of capacities since joining the NC State athletics department staff in 1981. He was the Executive Director of the Wolfpack Club from 1991 until he retired in 2020, and in July of 2020 he was named a Special Assistant to AD Boo Corrigan.

During his tenure as Executive Director, the Wolfpack Club has averaged raising over $15.7 million per year for 25 years. The Wolfpack Club finished the 2014 year with 20,077 donors. Purcell has overseen the successful completion of the $45.2 million Wolfpack Pride Campaign, the $50 million Goal Line Drive Campaign, the $2.6 million Batter Up Campaign, the $1.6 million Advantage Wolfpack Campaign, and the $14 million Building Futures initiative. The Wolfpack Club is currently in the $200 million Championship Commitment Campaign. He served as National Association of Athletic Development Directors President in 2004-2005 and was named their University Division Fund Raiser of the Year in 2007. In 2014, he was recognized with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Purcell’s influence is widespread in college athletics, as eighteen (18) former staff members serve at other universities, including three (3) athletic directors: Jimmy Bass at UNC-Wilmington, Karlton Creech at Maine, and Joe Hull at College of Charleston.

Purcell is also very active in the community, having served on various boards including the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the NC State Alumni Association Board, the NC State Friends of the Library Board, and the Triangle Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Purcell, a native of Clinton, NC, joined the Wolfpack football coaching staff in 1981 as a part-time assistant football coach under Monte Kiffin. He helped coach running backs, special teams, and the defensive scout team. He also served as academic coordinator for the football program under Kiffin. When Tom Reed became head football coach in 1983, he named Purcell as recruiting coordinator/assistant coach, and Purcell quickly gained recognition as one of the ACC’s top recruiters. Among his signees was Erik Kramer, the 1986 ACC Player of the Year. When Dick Sheridan became the Wolfpack’s head coach in 1986, he named Purcell as his recruiting coordinator. Purcell also handled many administrative duties for Sheridan, including coordinator of the Dick Sheridan Football Skills Camp.

Purcell became Assistant Director of the Wolfpack Club under Charlie Bryant in July, 1987 and coordinated fundraising efforts in 49 North Carolina counties, directed the Courtesy Car Program, and oversaw management of the Stroud Wolfpack Center.

Purcell is a third generation NC State alumnus. Both his father and grandfather attended NC State. Bobby attended NC State and North Carolina, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1977. Following two years with the Whirlpool Corporation, Purcell returned to school and received a Masters degree in Sports Management at the University of Georgia. During his tenure in Athens, he worked as a volunteer graduate assistant football coach under Vince Dooley and later served as an intern with the Atlanta Falcons.

Purcell is married to the former Lori Williams and they have a son, John, who is a student at NC State, and a daughter, Paige, who graduated from NC State and is currently in medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill.