Dec. 7, 2009
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's Director of Athletics, Jim Fiore, has announced a pair of changes in the department's external services area. Rob Emmerich has been promoted to Associate Director of Athletics for External Services and Sam Kornhauser has been elevated to Director of Athletics Advancement and Alumni Relations.
"I'm delighted to recognize Rob and Sam with these well deserved promotions," said Fiore. "They have both made significant contributions to the growth of Stony Brook athletics for many years and have done an excellent job of enhancing our alumni outreach and improving our overall fund-raising efforts. They are both passionate about Stony Brook athletics, highly regarded on campus and well known in the local community. I am confident that with their leadership our external relations efforts will continue to grow and bear fruit."
In his new role Emmerich will provide daily oversight to the external services team for the Department of Athletics. His primary responsibility will be to generate revenue through the planning, implementation and management of a comprehensive, year-round major gift, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, and ticket sales program. Emmerich will also oversee the creation and implementation of a strategic marketing plan for the department.
A long-time member of the department, Emmerich has served as Assistant Director of Athletics for External Services since 2007, working in all facets of the external operations of the Athletics Department. Prior to that, Emmerich served in the roles of Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing and Communications for two years. He started his career at Stony Brook in 1997 as Director of Athletic Communications and oversaw the department's media relations for 11 years. In that role, he put in place the department's first television contract and implemented a new website that included audio and video streaming of Stony Brook athletics events.
Emmerich is a 1991 graduate of Cornell University where he earned a B.S. in industrial and labor relations. He also served as a graduate assistant with Stony Brook athletics from 1994-95 while earning his Master's in management and public policy in 1995.
In his role as Director of Athletics Advancement and Alumni Relations, Kornhauser will have an integral role in the overall departmental advancement efforts. His primary focus will be on re-engaging alumni, enhancing the department's annual giving program and the cultivation of major gift prospects.
As Stony Brook's first varsity intercollegiate football coach, Kornhauser won 105 games over his 22 seasons at SBU, taking the program from club to varsity status and then guiding it through its transition from Division III status to the NCAA Division I level. In his final year in 2005, he led the Seawolves to their first-ever Northeast Conference title, punctuated with a dramatic come-from-behind win over league rival Central Connecticut State in the final game of the season. Following his retirement from coaching at the conclusion of the 2005 season, Kornhauser moved seamlessly into a role with the department's external services team as an athletics advancement officer. His substantive relationships with former student-athletes, alumni, campus constituents and community members have made Kornhauser an invaluable asset in his role as a fund raiser.
Kornhauser is a 1971 graduate of Missouri Valley College, where he was twice selected as an all-conference offensive tackle and was named an NAIA District 16 All-Star. The Vikings were nationally ranked during Kornhauser's senior season. He earned his master's of science in exercise physiology from Southern Illinois University in 1972 and a C.A.S. degree from the University of Vermont in 1982.
