WKU Athletics Director Todd Stewart announced several updates to Athletics Staff in a Monday, July 6 press release.
The announcement details several promotions within Athletics administration and their new duties.
Kat Smith has been named Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, Chief Revenue Officer and Senior Woman Administrator.
Smith, a former WKU softball player, began as the Associate Athletic Director and Executive Director of the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation in September, 2022. She moved to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Ticket Sales and the Executive Director of the HAF in May, 2025.
In her new role, Smith will oversee WKU Athletics’s “comprehensive revenue generation strategy” and serve as a member of its executive leadership team while continuing to work with the HAF in a leadership position.
Cal Cannestra began with WKU Athletics in September, 2024 as the General Manager of Ticket Sales and Operations, and has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director for External Operations.
In his new position, Cannestra will continue to work in marketing and ticket sales while assisting the growth of WKU Athletics through “strategic initiatives that support” the generation of revenue and engagement of fans.
Tara Hornal has taken on the role of Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations. The former Senior Coordinator of Business Operations will now “oversee the department’s human resources and business operations” and serve as the department’s Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
Mike Gaddie joined WKU Athletic Training Staff in 2000, and now takes on the role of Senior Associate Athletic Director and Student-Athlete Well-Being. He will continue to lead WKU’s “nationally respected sports medicine program” while he oversees efforts to support the overall well-being of WKU’s student-athletes.
Former WKU Volleyball player and Graduate Assistant for Student-Athlete Development & NIL Callahan Wiegandt has taken on the role of Director of Student-Athlete Development.Weigandt will focus on programs that aim to improve the overall experience of WKU student-athletes.
Former Director of Operations and Assistant Coach with the WKU Softball program Lindsey Warick will move to the Coordinator of Business Operations. In her new role, Warick will work with “the department’s financial and operational management.”
Former WKU Women’s golfer Averi Cline has moved into her new role as the Academic Coordinator for Men’s and Women’s Basketball. In her new job, Cline will work to provide student-athletes in both basketball programs with “academic support” and to monitor their academic progress.
In addition to the updates in Athletics staff, WKU rolled out an updated list of sports administrators:
Baseball and Volleyball — Mike Gaddie
Football and Women’s Basketball — Jim Clark
Men’s Basketball — Kat Smith
Men & Women’s Golf — Cal Cannestra
Men & Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country — Chandler DeRieux
Soccer — Lee Forsythe
Softball — Benji Stewart
Tennis — Jared MacDonald
Cheer and Dance — Audrey Ann Laster
