Post by Dustman on Jun 14, 2006 9:57:35 GMT -5
gobonnies.cstv.com/genrel/061406aac.html
Zwierlein to retire at end of 2006
Director of Athletics to leave Bonas after success-filled three years
Director of Athletics Dr. Ron Zwierlein
June 14, 2006
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - St. Bonaventure University Director of Athletics Dr. Ron Zwierlein will retire at the end of December, he announced on Wednesday. Zwierlein has been St. Bonaventure's director of athletics since January 2004.
"My decision to retire is based on my personal life and professional endeavors," Zwierlein said. "Personally, I want to be nearer to my family and thus able to enjoy the freedoms of retirement ... to watch my grandchildren grow up and to spend time with my mother. Professionally, I believe I have fulfilled the expectations presented by the University's administration when I accepted the AD's position. I believe we have instilled credibility and integrity back into a department torn by scandal. Although never really broken, the perception was that the athletic department was a rogue operation working outside the pretext of institutional control. This perception had to be altered through actions and deeds. Some 22 months and 11 reports, reviews, certifications, audits and evaluations later, I am pleased to report we have passed all of our examinations with high marks.
"I also was charged with providing leadership to take St. Bonaventure's sport programs to a competitive level, representative of the University as a leader among Franciscan institutions. Although some may use only basketball as the yardstick to measure successes, I would challenge everyone to examine St. Bonaventure's sport programs across the board then make a decision. Having said that, I also feel very confident that the basketball program is being built on a solid foundation and positioned to achieve success."
"Dr. Ron Zwierlein brought to this position the enthusiasm of a seasoned athletics administrator and the invaluable perspective of a life-long educator (Zwierlein holds a Ph.D. in education)," said St. Bonaventure president Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D. "His willingness to engage in collaborative action across constituencies of the University made him a trusted and effective agent for change. We will miss him very much, but we will build on the foundation he created with gratitude for his leadership. A national search will be conducted for his replacement."
Zwierlein's 39-year career in intercollegiate athletics has been marked by consistent advancement and achievement.
Some of Zwierlein accomplishments at St. Bonaventure include the successful completion of the Athletic Department's NCAA Division I certification in 2004-05; the writing and initial implementation of a five-year Strategic Plan; the NCAA's awarding of a CHAMPS/Life Skills program to St. Bonaventure in the fall of 2004; and a National Consortium for Academics and Sports Outreach Award in 2004-05.
St. Bonaventure's student-athletes have consistently posted impressive academic achievements during Zwierlein's tenure. In the 2005-06 academic year, St. Bonaventure's 14 intercollegiate teams posted a combined grade point average (GPA) of 3.06. Eight teams currently hold better than a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Under Zwierlein's watch, many of St. Bonaventure's teams have achieved unprecedented success in competition. The men's swimming and diving team won the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship while the women's swimming and diving team has finished second in the A-10 Championship five years running. In 2004, the baseball team won the Atlantic 10 Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Baseball also finished second in the A-10 this season with a program record 18 conference victories. In 2005, the softball team earned a berth in the A-10 Championship for the first time ever, then followed that with a return trip last month. Women's lacrosse has qualified for the A-10 Championship two out of the last three seasons and this past spring went 14-3 and earned its first national ranking. In the 2005-06 year alone, three Bonnies coaches were honored as Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in their respective sports - men's swimming's Sean McNamee, baseball's Larry Sudbrook and softball's Mike Threehouse.
Zwielein has hired two new coaches, Mel Mahler in men's soccer in 2005 and Manoj Khettry in women's soccer last month. He also is assisting with the renovation to St. Bonaventure's baseball complex, the newly-renamed Handler Park at McGraw-Jennings Field.
Zwierlein serves the Atlantic 10 Conference on a number of committees and has served on peer review teams for the NCAA during certification reviews.
Prior to joining St. Bonaventure, Zwierlein worked at his alma mater, Bowling Green State University for 24 years. He was Bowling Green's director of athletics for five years, responsible for the coordination of 22 sports in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Zwierlein also held other posts at Bowling Green including interim vice president for student affairs, director of recreational sports, director of the university field house, associate director of the student recreation center, and men's and women's swimming and diving coach.
Zwierlein was the director of athletics at John Carroll University in Cleveland from 1978-81. He also coached swimming and diving, soccer and tennis, and served as Director of Aquatics, chair of the Physical Education Department, and supervisor of intramural and club sports over his tenure at John Carroll.
Zwierlein and his wife, Cindy, have three children, Heidi (Zwierlein) Brown, Heather, and Chad, as well as three grandchildren. Zwierlein is a native of Rochester, N.Y.
