college football:

ESPN names beer exec as next MAACO Bowl Las Vegas leader

Dan Hanneke, a 21-year veteran at Anheuser-Busch, will take over as executive director of the bowl, which is in its 21st year

Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler is pressure by Boise State’s Billy Winn during the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium Thursday, December 22, 2011.

By Taylor Bern (contact)

Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 | 6 p.m.

Dan Hanneke, a 21-year employee at Anheuser-Busch, is the new executive director of the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, ESPN announced Friday. Hanneke is in charge of all aspects of the December bowl game after taking over for Tina Kunzer-Murphy, who stepped down from the position in August after 11 years.

Hanneke has spent the past eight years as the vice president and general manager of the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Las Vegas, where he forged relationships with several business professionals around town. He started at Anheuser-Busch Inc. in 1982 and has worked in various sales and marketing positions throughout the United States since then.

“I am excited to build on the 21-year tradition of the Las Vegas Bowl with ESPN, and our committee, as we continue to showcase Las Vegas with all the excitement and entertainment that it has to offer,” Hanneke said.

ESPN Regional Television owns the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, which this year will be played on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 12:30 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium. In last year’s game Boise State defeated Arizona State 56-24.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or taylor.bern@lasvegassun.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.