UMass Athletics Announces Strategic Leadership Changes

AMHERST, Mass. – In an effort to increase support for University of Massachusetts student-athletes, Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced today several key strategic leadership reorganizations that will provide immediate and future benefits.

The primary focus of the reorganizational effort is centered around enhancing the daily experience of UMass' 650 student-athletes to positively impact their performances in the classroom, community and in competition.

Leadership Changes Entering 2017-18:
Darrice Griffin – promoted to Deputy Director of Athletics
Jeff Smith – promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Sport Administration/Internal Operations
Matt Komer – promoted to Director of Student Academic Success
Joe Connolly – promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance
Jennifer Brodeur – promoted to Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer
Sean Quinn – promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Finance and Administration
Joan Hopkins – named Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development
Kate DiSanto – named Assistant Athletic Director for Administration

Griffin had previously served as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator. In her new role, Griffin will be the Chief Operating Officer of the department overseeing and managing all internal and select external activities. Along with sport program oversight, including the Minutemen football program, she will work with the department's internal and external constituents on the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive Department of Athletics Strategic Plan. She will also continue to serve as the department's SWA.

"Since arriving in July of 2015, Darrice has been an instrumental part of our growth as an organization," said Bamford. "She has earned the respect of her peers in athletics and the campus community as a true relationship-builder. A talented, task-oriented administrator, I am most impressed by her tireless advocacy of our student-athletes every day. I am pleased to provide her with an opportunity to lead our department in an expanded role."

Smith has been with the department for nearly 20 years most recently serving as the Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Enrichment Services and as the head athletic trainer. He has also worked as the program administrator for men's ice hockey, the track and field programs and rowing. Along with his role heading up the Sports Medicine unit, Smith has played an integral role in programming to assist growth and development of UMass student-athletes.

"I am pleased to offer this promotion to Jeff so that he may realize a more central administrative role with our department. Jeff is a hard-worker who understands our university and how to accomplish our organizational goals to benefit our student-athletes," said Bamford. "I appreciate Jeff's selfless approach to his work and look forward to working more closely with him on initiatives driving our internal operations."

Komer, a double graduate of the University, has also been with the department for over two decades – most recently as the Associate Director of Academic Services. He has played an integral role in helping UMass student-athletes achieve in the classroom while also co-teaching the course, "Your Winning Season" which aims to create success in academics, personal wellness, and career exploration.

"Matt is a talented administrator who is ready to lead our academic services unit," said Bamford. "His knowledge of UMass and ability to create a learning environment that can produce positive results will benefit our student-athletes immensely. Matt has earned this promotion and I am pleased he has accepted this new role with great excitement."

Connolly is one of the newest members of the athletics staff having been named Director of Sports Performance in January 2016 after spending seven years at the University of South Carolina. He has primarily worked with the football program overseeing all aspects of the strength and conditioning for those 100-plus student-athletes. He will now have direct oversight of the entire sports performance unit at UMass, with six full-time staff members.

"Joe's appointment 18 months ago has lifted our football program and now will do the same for our entire 21-sport department. Joe is a natural leader, a forward-thinker and an administrator who has experience building sports performance units that are nationally recognized," said Bamford. "We are very fortunate to have someone with Joe's background leading the sports performance unit at UMass."

Brodeur is a nationally recognized athletic trainer who enters her 12^th year at UMass. She has worked as the head athletic trainer for the football program for 10 of those years and was most recently the Associate Head Athletic Trainer for the unit. She has been presented the 2017 College and University Athletic Trainers Committee New Horizon Award, was named the 2013 Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers Association, and was one of 16 to be given the 2009 Athletic Trainer Service Award at the National Athletic Trainers Association National Convention.

"This is a well-deserved promotion for Jennifer," said Bamford. "She has capably led our football sports medicine unit and now will be asked to coordinate all athletic medical services for UMass with Jeff Smith's promotion. Jennifer is a wonderful clinician who has built relationships with our young people that make us all proud."

Quinn enters his 14^th year with the University after overseeing the athletics ticket office as an Assistant Director of Athletics for the previous 13 years. A double graduate of the University, Quinn will play a key role in overseeing the department's operating budget as well as long-range capital, operations and personnel strategic planning.

"Sean's promotion to lead our finance and administration unit is well-earned. Sean is a true Minuteman who has worked hard to grow himself into this leadership position," said Bamford. "His UMass-first mentality and exemplary customer service approach will serve our coaches and student-athletes well. I look forward to working with Sean for years to come in his new role."

Hopkins, who has served as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services since 2006, moves into a new role aimed at providing vital programming and experiential support to student-athletes. She will directly create initiatives that assist in new student acclimation; facilitate programming that focuses on personal development, career exploration, and defining career goals; maintain student-athlete recognition events; actively solicit grant funding to support new initiatives; and develop a Faculty Fellows program.

"I want to personally thank Joan Hopkins for her dedication and commitment to our student-athletes in their academic pursuits here at UMass as our Associate AD for Academic Services," said Bamford. "In her new role, I have confidence that Joan will work diligently to build a valuable student-centric program focused on essential student-athlete experience and transition needs."

DiSanto, a 2006 graduate, joins the Department of Athletics after working for eight-plus years with the Office of University Relations where she served as the Director of University Events. DiSanto has a record of high-level performance coordinating major annual campus events including Commencement, Faculty Convocation, the Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series, Salute to Service, UMass Honors, the Community Breakfast and many others. Her new duties in the Department of Athletics will include oversight of departmental projects and special events; serving as the primary liaison with the President's Office, the Chancellor's Office, the Campus Leadership Cabinet; and support of internal and external communications from the Director of Athletics Office.

"Kate's appointment in this newly created position will benefit our department immeasurably. Kate has an enormous amount of special event experience and strong relationships across campus that will allow us to align our department more closely with academic and research enterprises at UMass," said Bamford. "Our entire staff has enjoyed working with Kate on campus-wide initiatives in the past and is thrilled she will be bringing that expertise and passion to her new role in athletics."

For continued coverage of the University of Massachusetts athletics, follow the Minutemen and Minutewomen on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @UMassAthletics as well as online at www.UMassAthletics.com.

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