NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A series of appointments to be effective June 1
will complete the restructuring of intercollegiate athletics that began
last year at Vanderbilt, University officials announced today. The new
appointments are the result of a thorough review that commenced in
September 2003, when Vanderbilt announced a plan to ensure the
integration of athletics into student and University life.
"Nine months ago, we started a building process with the goal of
being centered on the success of students and coaches, and that’s what
this new organization does," said Vice Chancellor for Student Life and
University Affairs and General Counsel David Williams. "Now we
have assembled a great team of professionals who are committed to
athletic and academic success in every Commodore program."
Williams will continue to provide executive leadership to Vanderbilt
student athletics. Reporting to him will be a senior team of
sport operations directors who will be responsible for specific varsity
sports and a wide range of administrative areas, including budget and
game day operations, and will play a major role in the recruiting of
coaches and staff. In addition, each director will be expected to work
with one or two Vanderbilt club sports that could be developed into a
future varsity program.
Assistant Vice Chancellor Brock Williams will be one of the sport
operation directors. Williams, a veteran student life professional who
has responsibility for the student recreation center, will oversee the
varsity sports of men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf,
facilities and the Brownlee Currey Tennis Center.
Also named director of sport operations are:
* Brian Reese, who
will oversee varsity football and women’s lacrosse, the new sport of
women’s bowling, strength and conditioning and the equipment
room. Reese currently serves as director of football operations.
*
Carla Williams, who will oversee varsity women’s basketball, men’s and
women’s tennis, women’s soccer, the Hendrix Dining Room and video
operations. Williams also will become the next Senior Women’s
Administrator. She now serves as associate athletics director.
*
Kevin Colon, who will oversee varsity men’s baseball, men’s soccer,
men’s cross country, women’s track and cross country, life skills and
sports medicine. Colon is the current director of the CHAMPS Life
Skills program.
Student athletics support services have been further aligned with
existing University operations through the following appointments:
*
Patricia Marett, associate vice chancellor for student life, will now
oversee the budget and business affairs for student athletics, as well
as the ticket office.
* Chris Wyrick, who has served as associate
athletics director for major gifts, has been named executive director
of development. Wyrick will direct the National Commodore Club.
*
Elizabeth Wright has been named director of academic support. She is a
senior academic support counselor. The new academic support operation
will work closely with the Office of the Provost to ensure that all
student-athletes take full advantage of the academic opportunities at
Vanderbilt.
* Candice Storey, also a senior academic counselor, has
been named director of compliance. In addition, the compliance office
will work closely with the Office of Academic Support and the
University Office of Compliance.
* The CHAMPS Life Skills
initiative will become a unit of the student activities office under
the direction of Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life Mona Hicks,
who will continue to work with Kevin Colon during the transition. The
CHAMPS program provides career and life counseling to student athletes.
* Jay Lowe has been named director of facilities and game events, a new position that will manage all sports venues on campus.
Changes announced last September that are now fully implemented
include the integration of sports marketing and media relations into
the Division of Public Affairs and the merger of athletics fundraising
and alumni affairs into the Division of Development and Alumni
Relations.
In addition to the new appointments, several veteran Vanderbilt
athletics administrators will be departing for new opportunities.
These include: Michelle Kennedy, associate director for business
affairs and senior women’s administrator and a former Commodore
basketball standout, who will be entering Vanderbilt Law School later
this summer; Steve Franks, associate director for operations, who
announced in March that he would be departing in June to become
director of athletics at Lovett School in Atlanta; and Jim Booz,
director of compliance, who has joined the University of Virginia as
associate athletics director.
"These individuals have made incalculable contributions to
Vanderbilt student athletics," said Williams. "Their dedication to the
students, the coaches and the highest standards of ethics has made us a
better, more competitive university, and I am grateful for their years
of service."
Media contact: Michael Schoenfeld, (615) 343-1790
michael.schoenfeld@vanderbilt.edu