STARKVILLE (AP) — Scott Stricklin, an associate athletic director at Mississippi State since 2008, has been named the school’s athletic director.

MSU President Mark Keenum made the announcement Friday in Starkville.

Stricklin, who turns 40 on Saturday, succeeds Greg Byrne, who is now AD at Arizona.

Stricklin was hired in the summer of 2008 as MSU’s associate AD for external affairs, and in that role he led major fundraising efforts.

He’s also worked in athletic departments at Kentucky, Baylor, Tulane and Auburn.

Stricklin is a 1992 graduate of Mississippi State.