Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Completes Restructuring In Athletics & Recreation
8/15/2001 8:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 15, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Aimed at concentrating efforts into the areas of fundraising and support for Bucknell University's growing recreation program, the final phase of a year-long restructuring plan within the Department of Athletics and Recreation has been completed.
The new administrative structure is designed to support the department's current and long-term priorities, including efficient resource allocation for maintaining competitive success, continued national leadership in student-athletes' academic performance, gender equity and total rules compliance. Other objectives of the restructuring include enhanced department-wide communications, increased recreational opportunities for all students, greater gender equity in athletics and better control of athletic department finances.
The year-long, multi-faceted restructuring of the Department of Athletics and Recreation was implemented after a coordinated review of department management structure by Director of Athletics and Recreation John Hardt and Vice President for Student Affairs Charlie Pollock.
Last fall, the concept of a sport management group was introduced, dividing the direct responsibility for Bucknell's 28 men's and women's varsity programs among Hardt and two associate directors of athletics. This group leads the department's strategic planning efforts, shares overall management responsibility and coordinates Bucknell's response to issues such as gender equity, NCAA rules compliance and challenges to Bison competitiveness. It also plays a central role in the major facilities expansion program now underway at Bucknell.
"Athletics and recreation have traditionally been a source of campus-wide pride at Bucknell," said Pollock. "The new organizational structure of the Department of Athletics and Recreation will insure that our tradition of success continues well into the 21st century."
"By creating this new sports management group of senior administrators, we took the necessary steps to establish more frequent and standardized communications throughout the department," stated Hardt. "One of our primary goals remains to make certain that `everyone is on the same page,' with regards to the department's priorities and expectations."
Joining Hardt in the sport management group are 1991 Bucknell graduate Tim Pavlechko, recently promoted to Senior Associate AD, and Amanda Backus, recently named Associate AD and Senior Woman Administrator.
Past administrative structures at Bucknell have included Associate ADs with sport management responsibilities, but the current management-group approach also assigns Pavlechko oversight of athletics facilities and game management, athletic training and sports medicine, strength and conditioning and equipment room operations. With his promotion, Pavlechko will work more closely with Hardt in strategic and financial planning for the department, as well as the management of the daily operations of football and men's and women's basketball.
Along with her substantial sport management responsibilities, Backus will oversee athletic compliance and rules education, academic matters, gender equity, student-athlete financial aid, the "Sideline Coaches" program and scheduling for the varsity programs.
In addition, two positions have been restructured to strengthen the department in the areas of external affairs and recreation services. Todd Newcomb, Bucknell class of 1988 and formerly the director of athletic communications, has been promoted to Associate AD for External Affairs/Director of the Bison Club, while Joe Santorine has been named Coordinator of Recreation Services.
Newcomb will concentrate his efforts on annual giving, building alumni support and providing the department with a long-range development plan. In addition, he will oversee the areas of marketing and promotions, athletic communications, cheerleading and radio and television.
"By consolidating all of the various external responsibilities under one administrator, the department should benefit from enhanced communication and more seamless coordination of initiatives involving our alumni and external constituencies," Hardt noted.
Santorine, formerly the director of programs for the Phoenixville (Pa.) Area YMCA and the director of intramurals and recreation at Cabrini College, will be responsible for the administration and coordination of all programming services for Bucknell's expanding recreation, intramural and club programs. In addition, he will act as the department's primary liaison with the university community regarding recreation services, and he will work closely with the director of athletics in determining the university's recreational programming needs.
"This restructuring plan reemphasizes Bucknell's commitment to enhancing recreational opportunities, including intramural and club-sport programs, for students other than varsity athletes," said Pollock. "This emphasis is particularly important as construction continues on our exciting new recreation and athletic center."
"During my first year here, the area of recreation services has repeatedly been brought to my attention by numerous offices and members of the University community as needing attention," said Hardt. "The addition of Joe Santorine to our administrative team will afford more support and programming to our students and the campus community in this important area."
Bucknell has ranked among the nation's leaders in the graduation rate of its student-athletes in recent years, including best-in-the-nation accolades in 1992, 1993 and 1996. During the 2000-01 academic year, Bison student-athletes were awarded seven of the 22 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete citations, which topped the conference for the ninth straight year. Bucknell also claimed a league-high 249 members of the 2000-01 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, which honors student-athletes who achieve a 3.20 grade-point average during the semester coinciding with his/her sport. Bucknell has also captured the Presidents' Cup the Patriot League's all-sports trophy in eight of 11 years.
