July 21, 2010
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
Director of Athletics Jim Fiore has announced changes to the staff of the Stony Brook University Department of Athletics. The reorganization process is the first phase of a five-year strategic plan which will be unveiled for Stony Brook Athletics at the start of the 2010-11 academic year. The first phase of the restructuring includes several promotions as well a redistribution of responsibilities throughout the department which are all effective immediately.
"Following an extraordinary year for Stony Brook Athletics, I am excited to announce this reorganization along with the promotion of several outstanding staff members as the first part of our five-year strategic planning process", stated Fiore. "I am a firm believer in investing in programs when they are experiencing success. Our greatest resource at Stony Brook is our staff;" Fiore continued, "therefore, investing in our human resources is paramount in order to ensure that our success continues."
Current Senior Staff members Donna Woodruff and Matt Larsen both received promotions and will assume additional responsibilities as a result. After serving the past five years as Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Woodruff has been named Executive Associate Director of Athletics and will serve as the Chief of Staff for Fiore. In addition to sport oversight for Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Soccer and Women's Lacrosse, Woodruff will also add administrative oversight responsibilities for Facilities and Event Operations to her current oversight of Student-Athlete Development and Compliance. Larsen, a Stony Brook alumnus and former standout football student-athlete, will assume the role of Senior Associate Director of Athletics. As such, he will be responsible for overseeing Football, Men's Lacrosse and the Cross Country/Track and Field programs. Administratively, Larsen will add oversight of the External Services area, including all aspects of revenue generation to his responsibilities. As the Chief Financial Officer, he will continue to have ultimate responsibility for the department's $26 million budget.
Todd Phelps has also earned a promotion and will assume an expanded leadership role within the department. Phelps has been named Associate Director of Athletics for Facility and Event Operations after serving for the past two years as Assistant Director of Athletics. In his new role, Phelps will assume sport oversight responsibilities for the Baseball program and will add administrative oversight for the Equipment Operations staff. Phelps will also be the daily contact for all department construction projects, including $10 million in projects set to begin this summer - a Weight Room, Joe Nathan Baseball Field and a new running track with artificial turf field. Phelps will also serve as a member of the Management Team and will be called upon to provide valuable insight to the Director of Athletics and the Senior Staff on all issues affecting the Department of Athletics.
Rachael Lyall and Adam McLeod both earned promotions and will assume additional responsibilities as a result. Lyall has been named Assistant Director of Athletics for Business Operations and Administration after serving the past three years as Coordinator of Business Operations. As a result, she will now assume daily responsibility for the department's budget and business operations as well as oversight of the summer camp operations. McLeod, a Stony Brook alumnus, has been promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics for Event Operations after serving the past four years as Event Coordinator. In his new role, McLeod will supervise several staff members and assume daily responsibilities for attracting and managing all events held in Stony Brook Athletics facilities.
Stony Brook Athletics staff members Shannon Logan and Andrea Lebedinski have also earned staff promotions. Following two years as an Academic Advisor, Logan has been named the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development. In addition to her daily role as advisor to several sports programs, she will now serve as a direct supervisor for two academic advisors as well as a graduate assistant. Logan will also serve as a representative for the Department of Athletics on University committees involving academic issues. A Stony Brook alumna, Lebedinski has served as the Coordinator of Merchandise and Branding for the past two years and will now assume the role of Coordinator of Annual Giving and Branding. In her expanded role, Lebedinski will be expected to continue to grow the Athletics Department branding opportunities while also adding responsibilities for creatively strengthening the annual giving program for the department.
Several other staff members have also assumed additional responsibilities as part of the reorganization process. Rob Emmerich, Associate Director of Athletics for External Services, will continue to lead the fundraising, alumni development and annual giving plans for the department as well as continue with oversight of the marketing and ticketing areas. As a part of the strategic planning process, Emmerich will now also oversee the Office of Athletic Communications and will serve as a member of the Management Team. Sue Serafini, Assistant Director of Athletics for Sport Administration, will add oversight for the sport of women's soccer along with the three programs she currently works with on a daily basis - volleyball, tennis and softball. Serafini will also assume the role of Assistant SWA for the department while maintaining her current oversight of Athletic Training, Strength and Conditioning, and Championship Administration. Serafini will also serve as a member of the department's Management Team. Stephen Clacherty, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance, will assume sport oversight responsibilities for the Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving programs and will add responsibilities as the daily contact for the Department of Athletics with the offices of Admission, Registrar and Financial Aid. Clacherty will continue to have daily oversight of the Department's NCAA compliance responsibilities.
Earlier this year, Director of Athletics Jim Fiore also recognized the contributions and success of several coaches when Stony Brook announced five-year contract extensions for Football Head Coach Chuck Priore, Men's Basketball Head Coach Steve Pikiell and Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Rick Sowell. Priore was named Big South Coach of the Year after leading the Seawolves to their first Big South Conference title. Pikiell led the Stony Brook Men's Basketball Team to their most successful season in history. Behind 22 wins, the America East regular season title and a berth in the NIT, Pikiell earned America East Coach of the Year honors along with senior Muhammad El-Amin who was recognized as Player of the Year. Sowell helped to cap the Seawolves extraordinary year by leading the Men's Lacrosse program to a No. 6 national ranking, an undefeated America East title, a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals and America East Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors for him and junior Kevin Crowley respectively. All three head coaches were extended through 2014-15.
