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Do IT this week: Layering
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 10:38 p.m. EDT, Aug 24, 2009
Tom Wistrcill liked what he heard about the University of Akron and then liked what he saw.
So it was an easy decision for him to accept the position as the university's new director of athletics on Monday, following Mack Rhoades, who left for the same job at the University of Houston.
''When Mack got the job in Houston, I put out some feelers about Akron and the opportunity there,'' said Wistrcill, who will be introduced this afternoon at a news conference on campus. ''Once I was able to gather that information, I became extremely interested in the position.''
That interest intensified on the day that he was interviewed on campus.
''The University of Akron has tremendous upside. When I walked and drove around campus, I was excited about the new stadium, and the other facilities looked incredible,'' he said. ''And there are some tremendous sports programs.''
Wistrcill, 39, a native of LaCrosse, Wis., has been at the University of Minnesota since May 15, 2006, serving as senior associate athletic director for external relations. Among his responsibilities are marketing and promotions, ticket operations, merchandising and fundraising.
Before that, he was at the University of Wisconsin for three years as general manager of Badger Sports Properties.
He worked with 140 sponsors and managed an $8 million account at Badger Sports.
''My background is in sales and marketing,'' Wistrcill said by telephone from his Minnesota office two hours after accepting the job. ''I think they wanted someone with deep experience in external relations, someone who can build solid relationships around town.''
Wistrcill said interviews with President Luis Proenza and search committee chairperson Candace Campbell Jackson convinced him that the job and the place were right for him.
''We hit it off well,'' Wistrcill said. ''I love their vision as to where the university is going and I hope to add to that as well.''
Wistrcill has a degree in media communications from St. Mary's University in Winona, Minn., graduating in 1992. He was a four-year starter and captain on the school's basketball team.
He also has a master's degree in educational leadership and athletic administration from the University of St. Thomas.
His first job after college was at the University of Minnesota, where he was an assistant in the compliance office. He then worked three years each as commissioner at two Division II leagues — the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Wistrcill changed direction in 2000 by moving to Minneapolis to become vice president of sales and marketing for VarsityOnline.com. In 2001, he moved to St. Louis to become general manager of the St. Louis Quest of the Women's Professional Volleyball League. He was there for two years before taking the position at Wisconsin.
Wistrcill is expected to start his new position in mid-September. His wife, Kelly, and children Jonathan and Jack will follow him in the future.
''I am really excited,'' Wistrcill said. ''I look forward to being a part of the community and part of the athletic department, and working with our staff to educate student-athletes and win conference championships.''
Hunter Yurachek, interim athletic director and executive senior associate athletic director at UA, also was a finalist for the job.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Tom Wistrcill liked what he heard about the University of Akron and then liked what he saw.
So it was an easy decision for him to accept the position as the university's new director of athletics on Monday, following Mack Rhoades, who left for the same job at the University of Houston.
''When Mack got the job in Houston, I put out some feelers about Akron and the opportunity there,'' said Wistrcill, who will be introduced this afternoon at a news conference on campus. ''Once I was able to gather that information, I became extremely interested in the position.''
That interest intensified on the day that he was interviewed on campus.
''The University of Akron has tremendous upside. When I walked and drove around campus, I was excited about the new stadium, and the other facilities looked incredible,'' he said. ''And there are some tremendous sports programs.''
Wistrcill, 39, a native of LaCrosse, Wis., has been at the University of Minnesota since May 15, 2006, serving as senior associate athletic director for external relations. Among his responsibilities are marketing and promotions, ticket operations, merchandising and fundraising.
Before that, he was at the University of Wisconsin for three years as general manager of Badger Sports Properties.
He worked with 140 sponsors and managed an $8 million account at Badger Sports.
''My background is in sales and marketing,'' Wistrcill said by telephone from his Minnesota office two hours after accepting the job. ''I think they wanted someone with deep experience in external relations, someone who can build solid relationships around town.''
Wistrcill said interviews with President Luis Proenza and search committee chairperson Candace Campbell Jackson convinced him that the job and the place were right for him.
''We hit it off well,'' Wistrcill said. ''I love their vision as to where the university is going and I hope to add to that as well.''
Wistrcill has a degree in media communications from St. Mary's University in Winona, Minn., graduating in 1992. He was a four-year starter and captain on the school's basketball team.
He also has a master's degree in educational leadership and athletic administration from the University of St. Thomas.
His first job after college was at the University of Minnesota, where he was an assistant in the compliance office. He then worked three years each as commissioner at two Division II leagues — the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Wistrcill changed direction in 2000 by moving to Minneapolis to become vice president of sales and marketing for VarsityOnline.com. In 2001, he moved to St. Louis to become general manager of the St. Louis Quest of the Women's Professional Volleyball League. He was there for two years before taking the position at Wisconsin.
Wistrcill is expected to start his new position in mid-September. His wife, Kelly, and children Jonathan and Jack will follow him in the future.
''I am really excited,'' Wistrcill said. ''I look forward to being a part of the community and part of the athletic department, and working with our staff to educate student-athletes and win conference championships.''
Hunter Yurachek, interim athletic director and executive senior associate athletic director at UA, also was a finalist for the job.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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akron , oh
Posted 10:43 PM, 08/24/2009
great choice dr proenza and hats off to the search committee .
Lorain, oh
Posted 11:35 PM, 08/24/2009
this hire equals UA's need to bring in $$ for the athletic department...it's all about money
Highland Square, OH
Posted 11:37 PM, 08/24/2009
Perfect hire, IMO.
Thanks to the ABJ and Gaffney for their continued coverage of this zips. It's greatly appreciated.
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 12:39 AM, 08/25/2009
A mistake?
Looks like a clone of Bob Huggins. Will be gone with the first better offer he finds. Within 4 years is my prediction.
Why not hire people who have ties to the area and are proud of Akron and Summit county? People who have some loyalty. People who will stay to see the job through to completion?
Instead, this hire is a guy who stays in one place about as long as Joshua Cribbs does.
"Wistrcill changed direction in 2000 by moving to Minneapolis to become vice president of sales and marketing for VarsityOnline.com. In 2001, he moved to St. Louis to become general manager of the St. Louis Quest of the Women's Professional Volleyball League. He was there for two years before taking the position at Wisconsin."
Oh well. I suppose I make mistakes here and there, too.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:04 AM, 08/25/2009
You get it Karbunkle - this is a stepping stone for this guy and he will be gone as soon as he gets here. The sound you hear at the Info is wheels spinning.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:14 AM, 08/25/2009
An Athletic Director should look in shape and like he or she would hit the gym himself on occasion. That guy looks very much overweight and certainly does not look like he would be able to even walk around the block! What kind of example does that set?
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:08 AM, 08/25/2009
Hey spuerhund - ever see Coach Mangino at Kansas?
Posted 04:28 PM, 08/25/2009
Hopefully he will use the job as a stepping stone to move on to bigger and better things. That would mean he has done a great job for the Zips!
Akron, OH
Posted 09:04 AM, 08/26/2009
Stepstone or not, I believe it is a parody when athletic directors, coaches or other sports leaders are obese.
