Young Harris College Athletics

Aaron comes to the Enchanted Valley after working as the Associate Athletic Director for External Relations at UNC Asheville. Bessey helped break an annual fundraising record of $2.2 million, developed the ALL IN campaign, and helped achieve new records in sport giving and corporate sponsorship partners. He was instrumental in the development of the ALL IN Outdoor Sports Complex Capital Campaign to raise funds to renovate and expand the outdoor track, make improvements to the baseball and soccer fields, and add new on-campus tennis courts and fieldhouse. 

Bessey's hard work as leader of the external team at UNC Asheville led to new milestones in annual fund donors and revenue - more than $800,000, corporate sponsorship partners and revenue - more than $600,000, and sport-giving donors and revenue - more than $350,000. 

Before his time at UNC Asheville, Bessey worked as the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Lenoir-Rhyne University. He was the Senior Administrator overseeing Development, Capital Projects, Corporate Sponsorships, Sports Communications, Digital & Creative Content, Ticketing, and Marketing. Bessey excelled in fundraising at Lenoir-Rhyne. 

He was one of the fundraising leads for successful capital campaigns including an $18 million football and lacrosse stadium as well as other capital improvements adding up to over $4 million. These campaigns helped provide new grandstands at the soccer and track complex, a new weight room, a new gym floor and paint, a new baseball video board, and full-field baseball turf.

Bessey also set new fiscal year annual fundraising watermarks at LR, raising $700,000 in annual Bears Club revenue, over $300,000 in annual corporate revenue, and a one-day total of $130,000 during the annual homecoming golf and auction.

Additionally, Bessey's team helped elevate the gameday experience for those who tune in both in person and from afar at both stops. Both LR and UNC Asheville saw a sharp increase in social media following and live stream viewership. 

Lenoir-Rhyne set a record of more than 6,000 community service hours for student-athletes through Helper-Helper during his stint. His teams have earned NACDA, NACMA, and CoSIDA awards with his external team oversight.

Prior to Lenoir-Rhyne and UNC Asheville, Bessey served as Director of Marketing at Georgia State University and Assistant Director of Marketing at Appalachian State University, respectively. He is a graduate of NC State University where he served as a men's basketball student manager.

Aaron Bessey brings with him his wife, Dr. Caroline Bessey, who will be a primary care physician at Chatuge Family Practice, and their 6-month-old daughter, Sophie.