The College of Western Idaho has tapped an experienced Idaho athletics administrator to serve as its first-ever athletic director, signaling an ambitious push to build intercollegiate and intramural sports programs at the state’s largest community college.
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. His annual salary in the position will be $175,000, funded through student fees — a $50,000 increase over his previous $125,000 salary at the institution.
A Homegrown Hire With Deep Athletics Roots
Sheikh brings considerable credentials to the role. A Moscow native and University of Idaho graduate, he spent more than 14 years working in collegiate athletics. Most recently, he served over six years at U of I as senior associate athletic director for development and executive director of the Vandal Scholarship Fund — a role that put him at the center of fundraising efforts for one of Idaho’s flagship athletic programs.
“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 a statement announcing his appointment. He added that the athletics program would be designed to champion accessibility and affordability for student athletes.
Endowment Model Aims for Long-Term Sustainability
CWI currently has no intercollegiate athletic programs, making Sheikh’s task one of building from the ground up. CWI President Gordon Jones outlined the college’s approach in a statement, emphasizing a financially disciplined framework. Rather than depending on annual fundraising drives, the college intends to establish an endowment-funded model, ensuring operational costs are secured before any sport’s inaugural season and sustained over the long term through philanthropic giving.
“This approach enables us to build high-quality, sustainable athletics,” Jones said, “in areas of interest to the Treasure Valley community.”
The move toward athletics follows another significant development at CWI: the college’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 and an outdoor horse park — to the college at no cost, giving CWI a substantial venue infrastructure as it works to build out its sports offerings.
The hire reflects a broader trend among Idaho’s community colleges investing in student life and athletics infrastructure. The College of Southern Idaho recently named Brendan Wheeler as its new women’s basketball coach, as CSI continues to develop its own athletics programs in Twin Falls.
What Comes Next
Sheikh officially steps into his new role on June 1. The college has not announced which specific sports it plans to launch first, nor a timeline for fielding the inaugural intercollegiate teams. With the Ford Idaho Center now in CWI’s portfolio and an athletic director in place, the institution’s next steps will likely involve endowment fundraising, sport selection, and recruiting infrastructure — all before the first student-athlete takes the field or the floor under the CWI banner.