Chicago State University, Chicago, IL   

2018 - Present

 

Serves as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for Chicago State University’s 14 sport Division I athletic programs competing in the Western Athletic Conference

 

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

• Serving successfully as the face and voice of Chicago State University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and in doing so, develop positive relationships and ongoing personal communications with all constituent groups both on-and off-campus as well as local and national media

• Develop and manage all aspects of the Department’s $8 million operating budget, in compliance with University policies, generally accepted accounting principles and NCAA regulations

• Managing over $1 million in grants from the NCAA and various other organizations

• Overseeing a staff of 30+ team members with 176 student-athletes

• Hired men’s and women’s head & four assistant basketball coaches within first 3 months of employment

• Serves as an advisor to the President and simultaneously advocates for the goals of the University and Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; ensuring that the Department has adequate and appropriate plans, policies, procedures and programs that complies with and promotes the University’s mission, values and goals

• Developing, maintaining and reviewing programs and procedures that ensure the health, safety, recovery and welfare of the student-athletes, coaches, trainers and staff; promotes student welfare by means of educational, social, emotional, psychological and physical development and well-being

• Ensuring the fiscal and financial integrity of the Department by developing systems, plans, budgets and business strategies and tactics to anticipate, track and report all expenditures; identifying and furthering revenue opportunities consistent with the University’s mission, values and goals

• Created and instituted coach’s evaluation tools enabling efficient evaluations

• Positioning the University to interact at the national level and provide visibility

• Instituted staff development program to increase attainment of individual professionalism among coaches and staff

• Secured bid for Chicago State University to host the 2020-2021 WAC Tennis Championship

• Reviewing Student-Athlete Handbook, the Department’s Policy & Procedure Manual & the Department’s Compliance Manual

• Creating an International Student-Athlete Manual

• Creating Coaches Policy & Procedures Handbook

• Member of the Enrollment Strategic Plan committee

• Member of the Provost search committee

 

Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL   

2015 - 2018

 

Served as the Director of Athletics for Prairie State College’s 10 Sport NJCAA athletics program competing in the Illinois Skyway Conference

• Responsible for all athletic executive duties and leadership of a NJCAA Division I/II institution

• Direct supervision and management of all 10 NJCAA Division I/II sponsored sports teams

• Supervise all business operations and staff, including budget planning, resource allocation, facilities and master campus planning

• Responsible for all financial planning, resource allocation and organizational structure origination for athletic budget with staff of thirty coaches, administrators and staff, supporting 125 student-athletes

• Worked with Faculty Senate, College Deans and Administrators to restructure the Academic Services infrastructure for student-athletes to improve overall academic success

• Responsible for annual Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) filing

• Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Investigator (1 of 3 for the Institution)

• Oversee development projects to support and manage external capital projects

• Illinois Skyway Conference Chairman for men’s and women’s tennis programs 2017-2018

• Member of the Illinois Skyway Conference Strategic Planning Committee   

• Developed a strategy supporting all intercollegiate athletics through individual team fundraising

• Responsible for establishing and enacting a detailed athletic branding plan for public awareness of Prairie State College Athletics through local, state and national marketing

• 5 Conference Coach of the Year Awards 2015-2017

• 42 Illinois Skyway All-Conference Student-Athletes in 2015 - 2017

• 25 Illinois Skyway Conference Academic Award recipients with a 3.0 and higher

• 2016 NJCAA National Men’s Tennis Tournament berth, finishing 11th in the country

 

Chicago Park District, Chicago, IL

2014 - 2015

 

Park Supervisor

• Supervise park staff and provide administrative leadership for five parks

  • Plan and develop athletic and recreational program activities at various CPD locations, including a summer music festival for 100,000+ attendees

  • Responsible for budget maintenance; employee scheduling, timekeeping, and bi-weekly payroll; overall facilities management, including a new playground installation

  • Ensure compliance with CPD and state regulations regarding safety, emergency care, food preparation and other issues concerning the children at CPD parks

 

The Community of St. Sabina, Chicago, IL   

2013 - 2014

 

Director of Athletics        

• Provided administrative leadership in planning, implementation, coordination, supervision, and evaluation of athletic programs for St. Sabina Academy and The ARK of St. Sabina community center.

  • Led Athletic Department policy efforts, including the creation of a mission statement and the development of an athletic handbook

  • Evaluated and developed coaching staff in order to improve the quality of the St. Sabina Athletic programs, including goal alignment with school philosophy and guidelines, and enhancing game and practice schedules

 

The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN   

2008 - 2010

 

Manager, Youth Programming & Community Outreach and Manager, Student Welfare & Development      

• Successfully fostered an overall environment of and specific programs for developing the 700+ student-athletes in the following key areas:  academic excellence; athletic success; personal development; community involvement; and service and career preparation and development

  • Utilized diverse and innovative methods to develop informational, educational and promotional materials to increase on- and off-campus awareness and visibility of the programs and resources provided by Student Welfare & Development

  • Organized over 50 educational seminars annually for student-athletes

  • Implemented the Notre Dame Leadership Academy to help develop world class leaders

• Directed all aspects of 17 Summer Sports Camps with a total of 900 camp counselors and 12,000 student participants each summer

  • Created annual camp schedule integrating practice times, housing, food service, and facility requirements

  • Managed the coordination of annual budget proposal for this multi-million dollar program and reviewed and authorized expenditures to ensure conformance to budgetary limitations

• Managed the football contract process from initial concept through to execution

  • Established offsite, home and away, and travel and lodging contracts for the currently scheduled games from 2009-2025

  • Partnered with the supervising attorney and University General Counsel to negotiate, review, and finalize all contract details

• Served as a member of the Football Scheduling Committee

  • Created and successfully implemented a process for scheduling football games with opponents

  • Researched and identified profiles of potential teams to play and negotiated playing schedules with opponent Athletic Administrators

  • Led weekly Football Scheduling Committee meetings with senior staff members

 

Motivational and Public Speaker   

1991 - Present

 

Nationally recognized speaker on numerous topics such as overcoming adversity, achieving success, and winning every day.  

• Frequent guest on local and national media outlets such as ESPN, Comcast SportsNet, and the Big 10 Network

• Moderator for various seminars and town hall meetings on issues including race and gender issues, the influence of sports in our society, and the influence of drugs on America’s youth

 

The Christopher Zorich Foundation, Chicago, IL   

1993 - 2008

 

Chairman

Creator and manager of non-profit organization that assisted individuals in need through a variety of outreach programs.  

• Responsible for fundraising and development efforts that raised over $1.5 million in charitable donations and matching gifts

• Developed, implemented, and managed all aspects of community outreach initiatives including a college scholarship program for Chicago-area students, a family food program, a program for women in protective shelters, and a gift giving program for children and families in need.  Served more than 150,000 individuals through these and other Foundation programs.

• Established marketing initiatives to publicize foundation efforts, solicit corporate support, and recruit volunteers for events

​

Chicago Bears Football Club, Chicago, IL   

1991 - 1997

 

Defensive Lineman

National Football League Players Association, Union Representative 1994 - 1997

• Managed the implementation of union rules to members annually

• Led negations between members and the Chicago Bears organization

• Achieved record level participation of membership activities & service