St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Athletics Announces Organizational Structure
12/7/2018 2:02:00 PM | General
Director of Athletics Mike Cragg Assembles Department’s Leadership Teams
QUEENS, N.Y. – Under the direction of new Director of Athletics Mike Cragg, the St. John's Athletic Department has announced a revamped organizational structure, several staff title promotions and a number sport administrator appointments.
"One of the great qualities of our athletics department is the people," said Cragg. "We have a great mix of experience and excitement, all of whom have a great love and passion for St. John's and the college athletics enterprise. To me, that is a winning formula for the start of a great organization. I'm excited to see us already coming together and helping to lead our 17 intercollegiate sports and over 350 student-athletes."
Since his arrival at St. John's in October, Cragg has assembled the athletic department's new leadership teams, which consist of an Executive Staff, Senior Staff and Senior Advisors, to increase collaboration across units and 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 St. John's student-athletes and key stakeholders.
The Executive Staff is a leadership team made up of six senior administrators who serve as the department's experts in their respective areas of responsibility and provide oversight for the day-to-day operations of St. John's Athletics. Kathleen Meehan (Senior Deputy Athletic Director), John Diffley (Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer) and Eric Rienecker (Associate Athletic Director for Student Services) will serve on the Executive Staff and have each received elevated titles reflective of their advanced roles within the department. In addition, Michael Barry (Senior Associate Athletics Director for Business Affairs/Chief Financial Officer), Stephen Dombroski (Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations) and Doug Trani (Associate Athletic Director for Compliance) were appointed to the Red Storm's Executive Staff.
Executive Staff Title Changes
Kathleen Meehan, Senior Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator, is in her 43rd year of service at St. John's University, dating back to her days as a women's basketball student-athlete in the early 1970s. Meehan oversees internal relations, Title IX compliance, human resources, strategic planning and enforcement of the student-athlete code of conduct for the department. She has represented St. John's on numerous NCAA and BIG EAST committees during her tenure. Recently, Meehan was named to the Division I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee, which works to enhance the development and public perception of the sport and make recommendations related to regular-season and postseason women's basketball. She also currently serves on the NCAA's Event Certification and Recruiting and Scouting Services Task Force.
John Diffley, Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer, is in his 14th year at St. John's University and manages daily operations for the Red Storm's 17 varsity sport programs. He oversees facility operations, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and equipment operations while also serving as an administrative liaison for head coaches and with university leadership. In his role, Diffley is responsible for personnel management, capital projects and construction, strategic planning and fundraising. He is involved in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships.
Eric Rienecker, Associate Athletic Director for Student Services, is in his 16th year at the University and oversees the department's student development program. He also serves as the primary academic advisor for the men's basketball team. With Rienecker's leadership, the St. John's Student Development for Athletes program has received national recognition as a best practice from several organizations during his tenure in Queens.
The department's newly formed Senior Staff was established to allow synergies to be captured and to enhance communication among the central areas of the department. This leadership group includes Anthony Caputo (Equipment Operations Manager), Ann Gulino (Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance), Ron Linfonte (Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine), Erik Lowery (General Manager, IMG Sports Marketing), Melissa Manno (Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Operations), David Salomon (Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations), Joe Scribani (Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Promotions) and Nick Vendikos (Senior Director of Athletic Development).
St. John's Athletics has also named the department's Senior Advisors, who are officials in key administrative divisions within the University that will provide guidance in planning and operations of the department. John Kaiser (Athletics Director Emeritus), Nancy Kaplan (Vice Provost Student Development), David Masur (Associate Athletics Director/Coaches), Fr. Richard Rock (Campus Minister for Athletics), Sharon See (Faculty Athletics Representative) and Christian Vaupel (Vice President for Advancement and University Relations) have each accepted an invitation to join the senior advisory group.
As part of the revised organizational structure, sport administrator responsibilities have been redistributed within the department. The following individuals hold team administrator roles:
Baseball - John Diffley and Michael Barry
Men's Basketball - Mike Cragg and Michael Barry
Women's Basketball - Kathleen Meehan
Fencing - Joe Scribani
Men's Golf - Nick Vendikos
Women's Golf - Anthony Caputo
Men's Lacrosse - Doug Trani
Men's Soccer - John Diffley
Women's Soccer - John Diffley
Softball - Melissa Manno and David Salomon
Spirit Squads - Joe Scribani
Men's Tennis - Stephen Dombroski
Women's Tennis - Ann Gulino
Track & Field/Cross County - Eric Rienecker
Volleyball – Kathleen Meehan
"One of the great qualities of our athletics department is the people," said Cragg. "We have a great mix of experience and excitement, all of whom have a great love and passion for St. John's and the college athletics enterprise. To me, that is a winning formula for the start of a great organization. I'm excited to see us already coming together and helping to lead our 17 intercollegiate sports and over 350 student-athletes."
Since his arrival at St. John's in October, Cragg has assembled the athletic department's new leadership teams, which consist of an Executive Staff, Senior Staff and Senior Advisors, to increase collaboration across units and 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 St. John's student-athletes and key stakeholders.
The Executive Staff is a leadership team made up of six senior administrators who serve as the department's experts in their respective areas of responsibility and provide oversight for the day-to-day operations of St. John's Athletics. Kathleen Meehan (Senior Deputy Athletic Director), John Diffley (Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer) and Eric Rienecker (Associate Athletic Director for Student Services) will serve on the Executive Staff and have each received elevated titles reflective of their advanced roles within the department. In addition, Michael Barry (Senior Associate Athletics Director for Business Affairs/Chief Financial Officer), Stephen Dombroski (Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations) and Doug Trani (Associate Athletic Director for Compliance) were appointed to the Red Storm's Executive Staff.
Executive Staff Title Changes
Kathleen Meehan, Senior Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator, is in her 43rd year of service at St. John's University, dating back to her days as a women's basketball student-athlete in the early 1970s. Meehan oversees internal relations, Title IX compliance, human resources, strategic planning and enforcement of the student-athlete code of conduct for the department. She has represented St. John's on numerous NCAA and BIG EAST committees during her tenure. Recently, Meehan was named to the Division I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee, which works to enhance the development and public perception of the sport and make recommendations related to regular-season and postseason women's basketball. She also currently serves on the NCAA's Event Certification and Recruiting and Scouting Services Task Force.
John Diffley, Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer, is in his 14th year at St. John's University and manages daily operations for the Red Storm's 17 varsity sport programs. He oversees facility operations, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and equipment operations while also serving as an administrative liaison for head coaches and with university leadership. In his role, Diffley is responsible for personnel management, capital projects and construction, strategic planning and fundraising. He is involved in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships.
Eric Rienecker, Associate Athletic Director for Student Services, is in his 16th year at the University and oversees the department's student development program. He also serves as the primary academic advisor for the men's basketball team. With Rienecker's leadership, the St. John's Student Development for Athletes program has received national recognition as a best practice from several organizations during his tenure in Queens.
The department's newly formed Senior Staff was established to allow synergies to be captured and to enhance communication among the central areas of the department. This leadership group includes Anthony Caputo (Equipment Operations Manager), Ann Gulino (Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance), Ron Linfonte (Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine), Erik Lowery (General Manager, IMG Sports Marketing), Melissa Manno (Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Operations), David Salomon (Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations), Joe Scribani (Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Promotions) and Nick Vendikos (Senior Director of Athletic Development).
St. John's Athletics has also named the department's Senior Advisors, who are officials in key administrative divisions within the University that will provide guidance in planning and operations of the department. John Kaiser (Athletics Director Emeritus), Nancy Kaplan (Vice Provost Student Development), David Masur (Associate Athletics Director/Coaches), Fr. Richard Rock (Campus Minister for Athletics), Sharon See (Faculty Athletics Representative) and Christian Vaupel (Vice President for Advancement and University Relations) have each accepted an invitation to join the senior advisory group.
As part of the revised organizational structure, sport administrator responsibilities have been redistributed within the department. The following individuals hold team administrator roles:
Baseball - John Diffley and Michael Barry
Men's Basketball - Mike Cragg and Michael Barry
Women's Basketball - Kathleen Meehan
Fencing - Joe Scribani
Men's Golf - Nick Vendikos
Women's Golf - Anthony Caputo
Men's Lacrosse - Doug Trani
Men's Soccer - John Diffley
Women's Soccer - John Diffley
Softball - Melissa Manno and David Salomon
Spirit Squads - Joe Scribani
Men's Tennis - Stephen Dombroski
Women's Tennis - Ann Gulino
Track & Field/Cross County - Eric Rienecker
Volleyball – Kathleen Meehan
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