University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Athletics Announces Organizational Changes, Assembles Leadership Teams
01/18/2019 | General
RICHMOND, Va. – Under the direction of Vice President and Director of Athletics John Hardt, the University of Richmond's Athletic Department has announced a revamped organizational structure, several staff title promotions and restructured sport administrator appointments.
"One of the best assets of our athletics department is the people," Hardt said. "We have a great mix of experienced veterans and skilled newcomers, all of whom have a great love and passion for the University of Richmond and the Spider athletics program. To me, that is a tremendous formula for leadership and a great organization. In my short time here, I'm excited to see us already coming together and helping to lead our 17 intercollegiate sports and 400 Spider student-athletes."
Since his arrival at Richmond last year, Hardt has assembled the athletic department's three new leadership teams, which consist of the Senior Staff, the Operations and Managements Group and the Sport Management Group to facilitate communications and increase collaboration across units as well as to strengthen internal and external operations. All three groups will be involved in the planning and execution of the department's strategic priorities in order to best serve Richmond's student-athletes and key stakeholders.
In addition, Hardt has hired several new administrators to fill key roles in the department during the past year. These recent hires include: Tara Stewart (Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Athletics), Ashley Yencho (Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing & Promotions), Matt McCollester (Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications), Leeann Laing (Associate Director of Athletics for Business Operations), Ryan Colton (Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance) and Lauren Wicklund (Associate Director of Athletics for Leadership Development).
The Senior Staff is a leadership team made up of eight senior administrators who serve as the department's leaders in their respective areas of responsibility and provide oversight for the day-to-day operations of Spider Athletics. Staff veterans David Walsh (Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief of Operations), LaRee Sugg (Deputy Director of Athletics for Policy & Sport Programs/Senior Woman Administrator), Bruce Matthews (Associate Director of Athletics for Academic Support and Student Services) and Jasmonn Coleman (Assistant Director for Development/Spider Club) will serve on the Senior Staff. In addition, newcomers Ryan Colton (Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance), Leeann Laing (Associate Director of Athletics for Business Operations) and Lauren Wicklund (Associate Director of Athletics for Leadership Development) were appointed to the Spiders' Senior Staff.
The Department's newly formed Operations and Management Group was established to allow synergies to be captured and to enhance communication among the central areas of the department. This leadership group includes all members of the Senior Staff joined by the following administrators: Chris Jones (Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine & Student-Athlete Welfare), Ashley Yencho (Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing & Promotions), Matt McCollester (Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications), Carolyn Center (General Manager of Spider IMG Sports Marketing) and Allison Vogler ( Director of Annual Giving & Spider Club).
Senior Staff Title Changes
David Walsh, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief of Operations, enters his 19th season at the University of Richmond and manages daily operations for the Spiders 17 varsity sport programs. He oversees facilities, events, marketing, public relations, ticket office and is the administrative liaison with men's basketball, football, men's lacrosse, women's soccer, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis and women's tennis. In his role, Walsh is also responsible for capital projects and construction, and assists with strategic planning.
LaRee Sugg, Deputy Director of Athletics for Policy & Sport Programs/Senior Woman Administrator, is in her 17th year of service at the University of Richmond. Sugg came to Richmond in 2001 when she was named the school's first head women's golf coach. Sugg is the sport administrator for: baseball, women's basketball, field hockey, women's lacrosse, men's golf, women's golf, men's cross county and women's track & field/cross county. Sugg leads the department's equity and diversity efforts; and she represents the department as its Senior Woman Administrator with the NCAA and conference. In addition, she advises and collaborates with the Director of Athletics on all decisions regarding policies and procedures that affect the department. Also, she oversees the areas of sports medicine and strength and conditioning.
Chris Jones, Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine & Student-Athlete Welfare, is in his 16th year at the University and oversees the department's Sports Medicine and Athletics Training program. He will be responsible for assisting the department in developing systems and strategies that better integrate the sports medicine and strength & conditioning areas into a more cohesive unit focused on health care delivery, safety and sports performance. He supervises 11 certified athletic trainers, one healthcare insurance coordinator and coordinates the Department's athlete-centered multi-disciplinary healthcare delivery system for all Spider student-athletes in all varsity programs in conjunction with University's team physicians and other allied healthcare providers and specialist.
Bruce Matthews, Associate Director of Athletics for Academic Support & Student Services, is in his 15th year at the University of Richmond. Matthews oversees and directs all aspects of the department's student-athlete development and academic support programs for all 17 intercollegiate sports. In this role, he oversees all matters related to student-athlete outreach, academic performance, life skills management and academic experience (e.g., summer school opportunities, study abroad, internships). During his tenure at Richmond, the Spiders have excelled in the classroom. Most recently, the 2017-18 year was the strongest academic performance on record for Spider student-athletes.
As part of the revised organizational structure, sport administrator responsibilities have been redistributed and consolidated within the department to the Sports Management Group consisting of John Hardt, David Walsh and LaRee Sugg. The following assignments reflect their respective sport administrator roles:
Baseball - LaRee Sugg
Men's Basketball - John Hardt and David Walsh
Women's Basketball - John Hardt and LaRee Sugg
Football - John Hardt and David Walsh
Field Hockey - LaRee Sugg
Men's Golf - LaRee Sugg
Women's Golf - LaRee Sugg
Men's Lacrosse - David Walsh
Women's Lacrosse - LaRee Sugg
Women's Soccer - David Walsh
Women's Swimming & Diving - David Walsh
Men's Tennis - David Walsh
Women's Tennis - David Walsh
Men's Cross County - LaRee Sugg
Women's Track & Field/Cross County - LaRee Sugg
-- UR --
"One of the best assets of our athletics department is the people," Hardt said. "We have a great mix of experienced veterans and skilled newcomers, all of whom have a great love and passion for the University of Richmond and the Spider athletics program. To me, that is a tremendous formula for leadership and a great organization. In my short time here, I'm excited to see us already coming together and helping to lead our 17 intercollegiate sports and 400 Spider student-athletes."
Since his arrival at Richmond last year, Hardt has assembled the athletic department's three new leadership teams, which consist of the Senior Staff, the Operations and Managements Group and the Sport Management Group to facilitate communications and increase collaboration across units as well as to strengthen internal and external operations. All three groups will be involved in the planning and execution of the department's strategic priorities in order to best serve Richmond's student-athletes and key stakeholders.
In addition, Hardt has hired several new administrators to fill key roles in the department during the past year. These recent hires include: Tara Stewart (Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Athletics), Ashley Yencho (Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing & Promotions), Matt McCollester (Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications), Leeann Laing (Associate Director of Athletics for Business Operations), Ryan Colton (Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance) and Lauren Wicklund (Associate Director of Athletics for Leadership Development).
The Senior Staff is a leadership team made up of eight senior administrators who serve as the department's leaders in their respective areas of responsibility and provide oversight for the day-to-day operations of Spider Athletics. Staff veterans David Walsh (Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief of Operations), LaRee Sugg (Deputy Director of Athletics for Policy & Sport Programs/Senior Woman Administrator), Bruce Matthews (Associate Director of Athletics for Academic Support and Student Services) and Jasmonn Coleman (Assistant Director for Development/Spider Club) will serve on the Senior Staff. In addition, newcomers Ryan Colton (Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance), Leeann Laing (Associate Director of Athletics for Business Operations) and Lauren Wicklund (Associate Director of Athletics for Leadership Development) were appointed to the Spiders' Senior Staff.
The Department's newly formed Operations and Management Group was established to allow synergies to be captured and to enhance communication among the central areas of the department. This leadership group includes all members of the Senior Staff joined by the following administrators: Chris Jones (Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine & Student-Athlete Welfare), Ashley Yencho (Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing & Promotions), Matt McCollester (Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications), Carolyn Center (General Manager of Spider IMG Sports Marketing) and Allison Vogler ( Director of Annual Giving & Spider Club).
Senior Staff Title Changes
David Walsh, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief of Operations, enters his 19th season at the University of Richmond and manages daily operations for the Spiders 17 varsity sport programs. He oversees facilities, events, marketing, public relations, ticket office and is the administrative liaison with men's basketball, football, men's lacrosse, women's soccer, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis and women's tennis. In his role, Walsh is also responsible for capital projects and construction, and assists with strategic planning.
LaRee Sugg, Deputy Director of Athletics for Policy & Sport Programs/Senior Woman Administrator, is in her 17th year of service at the University of Richmond. Sugg came to Richmond in 2001 when she was named the school's first head women's golf coach. Sugg is the sport administrator for: baseball, women's basketball, field hockey, women's lacrosse, men's golf, women's golf, men's cross county and women's track & field/cross county. Sugg leads the department's equity and diversity efforts; and she represents the department as its Senior Woman Administrator with the NCAA and conference. In addition, she advises and collaborates with the Director of Athletics on all decisions regarding policies and procedures that affect the department. Also, she oversees the areas of sports medicine and strength and conditioning.
Chris Jones, Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine & Student-Athlete Welfare, is in his 16th year at the University and oversees the department's Sports Medicine and Athletics Training program. He will be responsible for assisting the department in developing systems and strategies that better integrate the sports medicine and strength & conditioning areas into a more cohesive unit focused on health care delivery, safety and sports performance. He supervises 11 certified athletic trainers, one healthcare insurance coordinator and coordinates the Department's athlete-centered multi-disciplinary healthcare delivery system for all Spider student-athletes in all varsity programs in conjunction with University's team physicians and other allied healthcare providers and specialist.
Bruce Matthews, Associate Director of Athletics for Academic Support & Student Services, is in his 15th year at the University of Richmond. Matthews oversees and directs all aspects of the department's student-athlete development and academic support programs for all 17 intercollegiate sports. In this role, he oversees all matters related to student-athlete outreach, academic performance, life skills management and academic experience (e.g., summer school opportunities, study abroad, internships). During his tenure at Richmond, the Spiders have excelled in the classroom. Most recently, the 2017-18 year was the strongest academic performance on record for Spider student-athletes.
As part of the revised organizational structure, sport administrator responsibilities have been redistributed and consolidated within the department to the Sports Management Group consisting of John Hardt, David Walsh and LaRee Sugg. The following assignments reflect their respective sport administrator roles:
Baseball - LaRee Sugg
Men's Basketball - John Hardt and David Walsh
Women's Basketball - John Hardt and LaRee Sugg
Football - John Hardt and David Walsh
Field Hockey - LaRee Sugg
Men's Golf - LaRee Sugg
Women's Golf - LaRee Sugg
Men's Lacrosse - David Walsh
Women's Lacrosse - LaRee Sugg
Women's Soccer - David Walsh
Women's Swimming & Diving - David Walsh
Men's Tennis - David Walsh
Women's Tennis - David Walsh
Men's Cross County - LaRee Sugg
Women's Track & Field/Cross County - LaRee Sugg
-- UR --
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