The Official Website Of Blugold Athletics

• Named Director of Athletics at UW-Eau Claire on May 23, 2014
  • 2014 WIAC Athletic Director Chairperson
• Education
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Relations from Winona State University (1990)
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration from Winona State University (1990)
  • Master of Arts, (MA) in Educational Administration from Winona State University (2005)
  • Thesis subject: Title IX: Law
• Previous work experience
  • Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Director of Intramurals and Recreation at Chicago State University (2012-14)
    • Responsible for all athletic executive duties and leadership of a NCAA Division I institution located in Chicago, IL. Chicago State began Western Athletic Conference (WAC) membership July 1, 2013
    • Current member of the Office of the President’s Executive Team
    • Direct supervision and management of all 16 NCAA sponsored sports and also all intramural and recreation activities enhancing campus life
    • Main catalyst in the solicitation, presentation and execution of Chicago State University’s transition to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
    • Main catalyst in restructuring the athletic internal operation, including compliance, academic services and business operation
    • Established a department wide strategic plan that was implemented in December 2012 as part of the “Cougar 360 Plan”
    • Supervise all business operations and staff, including budget planning, resource allocation, facilities and master campus planning
    • Main catalyst for building an Academic Services structure, resulting in historic APR standings for all sports to a non-penalty status. In over ten years of NCAA APR existence, Chicago State has been on penalty all those years. Chicago State will have no teams in APR penalty Fall 2014.
    • Main catalyst in developing a sustainable gender equity plan as part of the long range strategic plan and recent NCAA Division I re-accreditation
    • Responsible for all Chicago State University Campus Intramural and Recreation programming, including hiring, budgeting, event planning and wellness programs
    • Direct experience in building multi-million dollar athletic facilities in football, basketball, volleyball, track, soccer, tennis and baseball venues
    • Developed and negotiated the first commercial radio (WVON 1690am) and television contract (Lakeshore Television) in school history which reached four million people in the Chicagoland listener/viewer demographic
    • Established the first corporate/external relations program financially supporting multimedia enhancements for the Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Volleyball and Baseball
    • Developed, with the CSU Foundation, a strategy supporting intercollegiate athletics involving events and the development of a booster club
    • Main catalyst in the planning, hiring and implementation of sports expansion in Women’s NCAA Division I Soccer for fall of 2014, coaches hired, 18 student-athletes signed NLI’s
    • 2014 RPI as high as 181 for Men’s Basketball, up from 2013 RPI of 321
    • 2014 Academic Athletic Awards with a 3.0 or higher GPA represented 106 of 140 Student-Athletes
    • 2013 Academic Athletic Awards with a 3.0 or higher GPA represented 75 of 119 Student-Athletes
    • 2013 Great West Conference Championship in Men’s Basketball, first championship in school history, in any sport, competing in NCAA Division I
    • 2013 College Insider Tournament-CIT (post-season) birth and first in school history vs University of Illinois-Chicago
  • Lewis University Romeoville, Illinois, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics (2006 - 2012)
    • Responsible for all athletic executive duties of a NCAA Division I & II institution (Division I Men’s Volleyball) located 35 miles outside of Chicago, IL competing in three different conferences in 20 different sports (GLVC, MIVA, GLIAC)
    • Responsible for all financial planning, resource allocation and organizational structure originating from a five million dollar athletic budget with a total staff of 61 coaches, administrators and staff, supporting 350 student-athletes
    • Main catalyst for taking a university athletic department on NCAA probation with a limited track record of fiscal responsibility and institutional control into a balanced and successful compliant athletic operation in just the first three years
    • Established an operational structure of strict NCAA compliance including monthly rules education meetings, quarterly compliance briefings and gender equity updates (Title IX) with campus administration and academic leadership
    • Main catalyst for starting an alumni and corporate relations program that has generated in five short years the sum of almost $1,300,000 in financial support through booster club, corporate sponsorship, external relations and major gifts for capital improvements
    • Main Catalyst in negotiating Lakeshore Public Television contract for 2009-2012 televising 10 contests annually. (same TV affiliation as Loyola, Butler, Valparaiso Universities and the Division I Horizon League)
    • Responsible for establishing and enacting a detailed athletic branding plan for public awareness of Lewis Athletics through local, state and national marketing, including the University’s first TV contract, expanding to ESPN, Fox Sports Network and Comcast Sports
    • Lewis finished 16th out of 289 schools in the NCSA Collegiate Power Rankings in 2011 (combining Directors Cup standing, Graduation Rate, US World News Ranking) highest school ranking to date
    • In five short years, Lewis Athletics has won 19 conference championships, hosted four NCAA regional competitions and has had 23 teams compete in NCAA post-season play with multiple “Final Four” appearances
    • Graduation Rate prior to 2006 was 55% and in May 2011, the graduation rate topped 86% with an GSR of 98%
    • 2011 Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy winner, Lewis had not won top award since 1998
    • “Final Four” NCAA Division I Men’s Volleyball vs USC in 2012
    • “Final Four” NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer in 2010
  • Winona State University Winona, Minnesota, Director of Athletic Development/Gift Officer/External Relations, Director of Annual Fund (2002-2006)
    • Responsible for fundraising aspects of NCAA Division II Athletic Department including, hiring, marketing, external relations, corporate relations, facilities, games management, and scholarships
    • A key liaison between the University Athletic Department, Winona State Foundation and University Advancement Department supporting over 300 student-athletes
    • Key catalyst in fundraising for facilities upgrades for football, soccer, baseball, and basketball. The total sum of three million dollars in upgrades in 2 years was privately raised thru donors, corporate partners and newly developed department revenue streams.
    • Main catalyst in soliciting and securing the “first commercial naming rights agreement” for a MNSCU State University stadium
    • Responsible for all marketing/promotions including print, radio and television campaigns, along with extensive event planning and alumni relations for WSU athletic competitions
    • Responsible for all annual fund appeals to the entire alumni base, including parents, faculty and friends of the University
    • Catalyst in the transformation of annual fund phone-a-thon call center from manual operation to an automated computerized dialing system for more efficiency, accuracy and financial/donation results
    • A key liaison for the Athletic Department for athletic alumni relations and the Major Gift Officer for Athletics as part of the 2008, $16,000,000 Capital Campaign
    • 2006 National Champions in Men’s Basketball NCAA Division II
    • 2003 National Quarterfinalist in NCAA Division II Football
• Private sector work experience
• Conseco Finance Corporation (1995-2002), Associate Vice President (1998-2002), Chicago, Illinois
  • Responsible for field and operations management in a national industry leading consumer lending institution
  • Budgetary and P/L responsibilities associated with over 100 employees with an operating budget of 4.5 million dollars while generating 400 million in revenue
  • Key catalyst in changing entire loan processing structure from branch flow to centralized processing to reduce budgetary thresholds
  • Directed initiatives to reduce cost per unit to increase return on asset in excess of 20%
  • Key management member in successful divisional growth from 550 million to 700 million in revenue and originations
• Senior Risk Manager/Credit Manager (1995-1998) St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Experienced credit/risk underwriter for 500 million dollar lending institution
  • Successfully implementing a credit/risk scorecard to evaluate incoming applicants to speed the decision making process
  • Initiated an extended credit program to reach credit challenged consumers
  • Responsible for staff of 26 people including 5 teams that was responsible for 5 different regions of the country
• TCF Bank and Mortgage Corp. Branch Manager (1990-1995), Minneapolis, MN
  • Responsible for branch functions and 34 employees
  • Outlined and developed business relationships outside of bank customers to generate additional branch revenue
  • Created new marketing strategies to promote FDIC lending options, Federal Housing and Veterans Administration loan products.
  • Community relations coordinator for multiple branches for community events/festivals
• Additional professional experiences
  • 2014 NCAA Division I-AAA Executive Committee (WAC-rep)
  • 2013 NCAA Division I AD Summit Invitee and Participant, Santa Monica, CA
  • 2013-15 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Media/TV Committee
  • 2012-13 Great West Tournament Basketball Committee 2013 Great West Conference Cross Country Championship Host Site
  • 2013 Great West Conference Men/Women Basketball Championship Tournament Host Site
  • 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Volleyball “Final Four” vs USC
  • 2011 Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy Winner
  • 2008-12 NCAA II Women’s Basketball Regional Committee
  • 2009 NCAA II Community Engagement Award Winner
  • Great Lakes Valley Conference Executive Committee Co-Chair
  • Great Lakes Valley Conference Basketball Championship Committee
  • Great Lakes Valley Conference Golf Championship Committee
  • National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Member
  • Illinois Athletic Directors Association
  • IHSA Football Referee
  • CASE V Member (Development/Fundraising Organization)
• College playing experience
  • Student-Athlete, football at Winona State University
  • Team captain 1989, 1990

Updated 9/8/14