The College of Western Idaho has appointed its first-ever athletic director, tapping a University of Idaho veteran with more than 14 years of intercollegiate athletics experience to build the Treasure Valley school’s sports programs from the ground up.
Mahmood Sheikh, who joined CWI in September as assistant chief advancement officer for strategic initiatives, will transition into the newly created athletic director role beginning June 1. The promotion comes as the state’s largest community college prepares to launch both intercollegiate and intramural athletics — departments that do not currently exist at the institution.
Building Athletics on an Endowment Model
CWI President Gordon Jones outlined an approach centered on financial sustainability rather than annual fundraising campaigns. “Our ambition is to launch intercollegiate sports through an endowment-funded model to ensure annual operational costs are made available before the first season begins,” Jones said in a statement announcing the hire. The goal, he added, is to build programs supported by philanthropic contributions in areas of interest to the broader Treasure Valley community.
The endowment-first framework is notable in an era when many community colleges struggle to sustain athletic budgets year to year. By securing funding before fielding a team, CWI aims to avoid the financial volatility that has forced other programs to cut sports mid-cycle.
Sheikh Brings Deep Idaho Roots and U of I Experience
A Moscow native and University of Idaho alumnus, Sheikh spent more than six years at U of I as senior associate athletic director for development and executive director of the Vandal Scholarship Fund before arriving at CWI. His fundraising and development background aligns directly with the endowment-driven model Jones described.
“As an Idahoan, I am fired up for this opportunity knowing that 98.6% of our student body hails from right here in the Gem State,” Sheikh said in the announcement. He emphasized that the athletics program will focus on accessibility and affordability — core pillars of CWI’s broader mission.
Sheikh’s new salary is set at $175,000 annually, covered by student fees — a $50,000 increase over the $125,000 he earned in his previous role. CWI spokesman Ashley Smith confirmed the compensation structure.
Ford Idaho Center Acquisition Provides a Physical Foundation
The athletic director hire follows CWI’s acquisition of the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa less than six months ago. The city of Nampa transferred the complex — which includes an indoor arena used for rodeos and large sporting events, plus an outdoor horse park — to CWI at no cost. That facility gives the college a significant physical infrastructure advantage as it works to build competitive programs.
What Comes Next
With Sheikh taking the helm June 1, CWI is expected to begin identifying which intercollegiate sports to pursue first, guided by community interest across the Treasure Valley. The endowment funding process and potential partnerships with Idaho high schools and other institutions will likely shape the timeline for fielding actual teams. No launch date for specific sports programs has been announced.
For context on other leadership transitions across Idaho institutions, Coeur d’Alene recently named a new fire chief as communities across the state navigate key personnel changes in public-serving organizations. Statewide education and policy developments can also be tracked at Idaho News.