Providence College Athletics
Athletic Director Steve Napolillo Announces Staff Promotions
8/12/2024 12:00:00 PM | General
Kevin Connolly, Joe Nicastro, Jennifer Cunningham, Andrew Schoepfer, Mariana Perez and Chase Campbell each have been promoted.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College Athletic Director Steve Napolillo announced today (Aug. 12) the promotion of six staff members. Kevin Connolly (Senior Assistant Vice President/Associate Deputy Athletic Director/External Relations), Joe Nicastro (Assistant Vice President/Associate Deputy Athletic Director for Compliance and Men's and Women's Ice Hockey), Jennifer Cunningham (Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Athlete Development and Internal Operations), Andrew Schoepfer (Senior Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation and Business Management), Mariana Perez (Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and NIL Coordinator) and Chase Campbell (Director of High Performance) have each been promoted.Â
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Connolly has worked at Providence since January of 2008.  In his role, Connolly oversees all external relations for the athletic department, including fundraising, ticketing and marketing. He helped the athletic department have a record year in 2023-24, raising an impressive $10.7 million in donations and bringing in $8.5 million in ticket sales. Before his tenure at PC, Connolly spent four years in advertising sales at Dennis Publishing in New York (2004-08). While in New York, Connolly coached high school basketball at Regis High School where he won two NYC Championships. Connolly attended Wheeling Jesuit University where he played Division II basketball for two years under Head Coach Jay DeFruscio. He then transferred to Providence College where he completed his bachelor of marketing degree in 2004. He also earned his master of business administration degree in 2011 from PC. Connolly and his wife Ashley (PC '05) have four children, Clara, Callan, Maeve, and Brack. He is originally from Sparta, New Jersey.Â
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Nicastro began his career at Providence in May of 2010 as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. With his promotion, he will oversee the compliance office but also have the responsibility of serving as the sport administrator for the men's and women's hockey programs, as well as serving as a liaison with Hockey East. Nicastro will work closely with the athletic department's upper management to set the department direction and priorities. He has been responsible for maintaining BIG EAST and Providence College rules and compliance. He also has overseen NIL programming, and education, as well as the athletic scholarship budget. He also served as a liaison between Providence College and the BIG EAST Conference, Hockey East Association, and the NCAA for all NCAA rules compliance matters. Nicastro came to PC from Boston University, where he was the Director of Athletic Compliance from September 2003 to May 2010. He also received his master of business administration in 2009 from BU. Prior to BU, Nicastro graduated from Bowdoin College in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in economics & government and legal studies. He was a four-year starter for the baseball team, which he captained in 2001. Nicastro is originally from Gloucester, Mass. He now lives in Cumberland, R.I., with his wife, Kristin, and his children, Tessa, J.J., and Carolina.Â
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Cunningham has worked at Providence College since July of 2007. She began her career at PC in the External Relations/Fundraising office and transitioned to student-athlete development in 2021. She most recently served as the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development & Internal Operations. Cunningham oversees the Friar Edge Student-Athlete Development program and serves as the co-advisor for SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Council). Cunningham also serves as the sport administrator for the Softball program and secondary sport administrator to the Field Hockey and Women's' Basketball programs.  She is an active member of the National Association of Academic & Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and Women Leaders in Sports. Cunningham is a graduate of the 2020 NCAA Leadership Academy Workshop, 2015 Women Leaders Institute for Advancement, 2022 Women Leaders LEI (Leadership Enhancement Institute) and also served on the Education and Professional Development Committee for Women Leaders in Sports in 2023-2024. Cunningham came to PC from Marquette University where she was a Marketing and Ticketing Assistant from 2006 to 2007. She received a bachelor of science degree in sport administration/business from Ohio University where she was a four-year member of the Bobcat Field Hockey Team. Cunningham was a five-time Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, named to the 2005 Mid-American Conference's Field Hockey All-Tournament team and ranks fourth all time in Bobcat Field Hockey history for goalkeeper saves. Cunningham also earned a master of business administration from Providence College. Cunningham is originally from Raynham, Mass., and currently resides in Rhode Island with her husband, Jason, and children, Cameron and Caden.
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Schoepfer has worked at Providence College since July of 2011. Most recently, he was the Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation and Business Intelligence. Schoepfer oversees revenue generation efforts, which includes ticket sales and operations, licensing/branding/gear sales, digital communication efforts through email, and digital marketing. He also oversees departmental business intelligence efforts, overseeing reporting, budget analysis, and streamlining departmental workflows. In 2023-24, his leadership helped the ticket office produce a record $8.5 millions in sales. He also has played a significant role in the merchandising and licensing for the athletic department. His efforts enabled the athletic department to have a 300 percent increase in licensing revenue. Schoepfer has been a key figure working with the Friar Family Collective with its merchandising operation to help raise funds for NIL. Schoepfer started as an assistant ticket manager (2011-15) with the Friars and was promoted to Associate Athletic Director for ticket operations and data analysis (2015-21). He is currently serving as president of the National Association of Athletic Ticket Sales and Operations (NAATSO) for 2024-25. Prior to joining PC, Schoepfer served as Assistant Ticket Manager/Revenue Assistant at the University of California Berkley for a year. He also worked at UConn for two years as a Ticket Office Assistant and completed a yearlong marketing internship with Rhode Island College. Schoepfer attended the College of the Holy Cross where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science. While at Holy Cross, Schoepfer was a member of the football team where he was an honorable mention All-American, First Team All-New England, and two-time All-Patriot League honoree. Schoepfer and his wife, Dr. Kelly Whitford have a daughter, Maisie.
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Perez began working at Providence College on May 1, 2023. Currently, she is responsible for helping to manage all aspects of the compliance office. She also is responsible for overseeing NIL activities, which includes working closely with Opendorse and monitoring the student-athletes. Prior to arriving at Providence, Perez was an Assistant Director for Compliance at San Diego State (2022-23). She began her compliance career in 2021 as an intern in the athletic department at California State San Marcos. A 2020 graduate of Marquette University, Perez worked as a marketing, graphic design and digital media intern in the athletic department during her final two years in Milwaukee. She earned in a bachelor's degree in communications studies with a minor in criminology and law studies. In April of 2023, Perez received her law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego. Â
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Campbell has been at Providence College since 2023. In his new role, he will be overseeing the performance staff and all three training facilities as the director of high performance. Campbell will be leading the initiative to bring the highest level of comprehensive performance testing, monitoring, and data driven programming to all the student-athletes. Through the combination of new technology in the facilities and time-tested training principles, Campbell and his staff will aim to provide every athlete and team at Providence College with the best performance training in college athletics. Prior to coming to Providence, he spent a year as the director of business development for PLAE. In the role he led sales initiatives in the collegiate and professional athletic sector. In June of 2021, Campbell began his job as head strength and conditioning coach for basketball at Xavier University after spending a year with the Orlando Magic, where he served as strength and conditioning coach. Prior to working for the Magic, Campbell spent two years from 2018-20 as the director of men's basketball performance at the University of Rhode Island. Campbell spent two years from 2016-18 as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. He also worked as assistant strength and conditioning coach at Butler University during the 2016-17 season. Prior to Butler, Campbell worked at Miami University as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, working with a number of sports including men's and women's basketball. Campbell, who is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), is a 2013 graduate of Ball State University with a degree in exercise science. He earned his master's degree in sports performance from Ball State in 2015.
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-GO FRIARS!-
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Connolly has worked at Providence since January of 2008.  In his role, Connolly oversees all external relations for the athletic department, including fundraising, ticketing and marketing. He helped the athletic department have a record year in 2023-24, raising an impressive $10.7 million in donations and bringing in $8.5 million in ticket sales. Before his tenure at PC, Connolly spent four years in advertising sales at Dennis Publishing in New York (2004-08). While in New York, Connolly coached high school basketball at Regis High School where he won two NYC Championships. Connolly attended Wheeling Jesuit University where he played Division II basketball for two years under Head Coach Jay DeFruscio. He then transferred to Providence College where he completed his bachelor of marketing degree in 2004. He also earned his master of business administration degree in 2011 from PC. Connolly and his wife Ashley (PC '05) have four children, Clara, Callan, Maeve, and Brack. He is originally from Sparta, New Jersey.Â
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Nicastro began his career at Providence in May of 2010 as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. With his promotion, he will oversee the compliance office but also have the responsibility of serving as the sport administrator for the men's and women's hockey programs, as well as serving as a liaison with Hockey East. Nicastro will work closely with the athletic department's upper management to set the department direction and priorities. He has been responsible for maintaining BIG EAST and Providence College rules and compliance. He also has overseen NIL programming, and education, as well as the athletic scholarship budget. He also served as a liaison between Providence College and the BIG EAST Conference, Hockey East Association, and the NCAA for all NCAA rules compliance matters. Nicastro came to PC from Boston University, where he was the Director of Athletic Compliance from September 2003 to May 2010. He also received his master of business administration in 2009 from BU. Prior to BU, Nicastro graduated from Bowdoin College in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in economics & government and legal studies. He was a four-year starter for the baseball team, which he captained in 2001. Nicastro is originally from Gloucester, Mass. He now lives in Cumberland, R.I., with his wife, Kristin, and his children, Tessa, J.J., and Carolina.Â
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Cunningham has worked at Providence College since July of 2007. She began her career at PC in the External Relations/Fundraising office and transitioned to student-athlete development in 2021. She most recently served as the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development & Internal Operations. Cunningham oversees the Friar Edge Student-Athlete Development program and serves as the co-advisor for SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Council). Cunningham also serves as the sport administrator for the Softball program and secondary sport administrator to the Field Hockey and Women's' Basketball programs.  She is an active member of the National Association of Academic & Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and Women Leaders in Sports. Cunningham is a graduate of the 2020 NCAA Leadership Academy Workshop, 2015 Women Leaders Institute for Advancement, 2022 Women Leaders LEI (Leadership Enhancement Institute) and also served on the Education and Professional Development Committee for Women Leaders in Sports in 2023-2024. Cunningham came to PC from Marquette University where she was a Marketing and Ticketing Assistant from 2006 to 2007. She received a bachelor of science degree in sport administration/business from Ohio University where she was a four-year member of the Bobcat Field Hockey Team. Cunningham was a five-time Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, named to the 2005 Mid-American Conference's Field Hockey All-Tournament team and ranks fourth all time in Bobcat Field Hockey history for goalkeeper saves. Cunningham also earned a master of business administration from Providence College. Cunningham is originally from Raynham, Mass., and currently resides in Rhode Island with her husband, Jason, and children, Cameron and Caden.
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Schoepfer has worked at Providence College since July of 2011. Most recently, he was the Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation and Business Intelligence. Schoepfer oversees revenue generation efforts, which includes ticket sales and operations, licensing/branding/gear sales, digital communication efforts through email, and digital marketing. He also oversees departmental business intelligence efforts, overseeing reporting, budget analysis, and streamlining departmental workflows. In 2023-24, his leadership helped the ticket office produce a record $8.5 millions in sales. He also has played a significant role in the merchandising and licensing for the athletic department. His efforts enabled the athletic department to have a 300 percent increase in licensing revenue. Schoepfer has been a key figure working with the Friar Family Collective with its merchandising operation to help raise funds for NIL. Schoepfer started as an assistant ticket manager (2011-15) with the Friars and was promoted to Associate Athletic Director for ticket operations and data analysis (2015-21). He is currently serving as president of the National Association of Athletic Ticket Sales and Operations (NAATSO) for 2024-25. Prior to joining PC, Schoepfer served as Assistant Ticket Manager/Revenue Assistant at the University of California Berkley for a year. He also worked at UConn for two years as a Ticket Office Assistant and completed a yearlong marketing internship with Rhode Island College. Schoepfer attended the College of the Holy Cross where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science. While at Holy Cross, Schoepfer was a member of the football team where he was an honorable mention All-American, First Team All-New England, and two-time All-Patriot League honoree. Schoepfer and his wife, Dr. Kelly Whitford have a daughter, Maisie.
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Perez began working at Providence College on May 1, 2023. Currently, she is responsible for helping to manage all aspects of the compliance office. She also is responsible for overseeing NIL activities, which includes working closely with Opendorse and monitoring the student-athletes. Prior to arriving at Providence, Perez was an Assistant Director for Compliance at San Diego State (2022-23). She began her compliance career in 2021 as an intern in the athletic department at California State San Marcos. A 2020 graduate of Marquette University, Perez worked as a marketing, graphic design and digital media intern in the athletic department during her final two years in Milwaukee. She earned in a bachelor's degree in communications studies with a minor in criminology and law studies. In April of 2023, Perez received her law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego. Â
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Campbell has been at Providence College since 2023. In his new role, he will be overseeing the performance staff and all three training facilities as the director of high performance. Campbell will be leading the initiative to bring the highest level of comprehensive performance testing, monitoring, and data driven programming to all the student-athletes. Through the combination of new technology in the facilities and time-tested training principles, Campbell and his staff will aim to provide every athlete and team at Providence College with the best performance training in college athletics. Prior to coming to Providence, he spent a year as the director of business development for PLAE. In the role he led sales initiatives in the collegiate and professional athletic sector. In June of 2021, Campbell began his job as head strength and conditioning coach for basketball at Xavier University after spending a year with the Orlando Magic, where he served as strength and conditioning coach. Prior to working for the Magic, Campbell spent two years from 2018-20 as the director of men's basketball performance at the University of Rhode Island. Campbell spent two years from 2016-18 as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. He also worked as assistant strength and conditioning coach at Butler University during the 2016-17 season. Prior to Butler, Campbell worked at Miami University as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, working with a number of sports including men's and women's basketball. Campbell, who is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), is a 2013 graduate of Ball State University with a degree in exercise science. He earned his master's degree in sports performance from Ball State in 2015.
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-GO FRIARS!-
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