Providence College Athletics

Providence College Announces Appointment of New Athletic Director

Providence College Announces Appointment of New Athletic Director

Robert G. Driscoll, Jr. to be Introduced at Press Conference on November 2, 2001.

Nov. 1, 2001

Providence, RI - Providence College President Rev. Philip A. Smith, O.P. has announced the appointment of Robert G. Driscoll, Jr. as the College's new Athletic Director and Assistant Vice President for Athletics. Currently the senior associate athletic director at the University of California, Berkeley (Cal), Driscoll will transition into the position over the next two months, assuming his official duties effective January 1, 2002.

Driscoll will be introduced to the College community and the general public at a press conference on Friday, November 2, 2001 at 10 a.m. in the Mullaney Gym at Providence College.

A native of Concord, Massachusetts, Driscoll brings to Providence College 26 years of management experience in intercollegiate athletics, including tenures in executive administration, coaching, fundraising, student services and teaching. He has managed athletic programs at institutions ranging from Union College in Schenectady, New York, to a small women's college, to the University of California.

During his 14-year tenure at the University of California, Berkeley, Driscoll has served as the associate director for both varsity sports programs and student services, executive associate athletic director, director of athletic administration/ sports, and acting executive director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports. In these positions, Driscoll has managed the day-to-day operations of a department comprised of 27 NCAA Division I varsity sports, 25 club sports, a staff of 250 and a $36 million budget. He currently oversees capital projects for intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports, with a special focus on the planning and fundraising efforts for the multi-million dollar seismic renovation of Memorial Stadium.

Driscoll has conducted national searches to hire 17 head coaches and negotiated post-season appearances in football bowl games (1996 Aloha Bowl, 1993 Alamo Bowl, 1992 Citrus Bowl, 1990 Copper Bowl) and NCAA (1995 Western Regional Championship) and NIT (1999 Championship) basketball tournaments.

Under Driscoll's leadership, the Cal athletic program earned a 12th place ranking among 318 NCAA Division I institutions in the 2001 Sears Director's Cup, which is based on an institution's finish in NCAA championship competitions. The program also was recently honored with the Atalanta Award, which is presented annually to the academic institution making the greatest commitment to gender equity.

"Providence College is indeed fortunate to welcome Bob Driscoll as our new athletic director," notes Father Smith. "His experience includes managing a large and complex athletic program as well as much smaller ones. After excelling in these very different environments, Bob has chosen to bring his administrative and fundraising talents and expertise to Providence College. I am confident that the College's strong athletic heritage, which so many people have contributed to throughout the years, will be continued and further enhanced through Bob's leadership and vision."

"As a result of my East Coast roots, I am aware of Providence College's mission and rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence," explains Driscoll. "Every job I've held since graduating as a scholarship student-athlete has helped prepare me for the challenge of this new position. I'm proud to take my place in the Providence College tradition, and will make it my goal to see that everyone in the greater Rhode Island community considers themselves part of the PC athletic family."

Prior to his term at the University of California, Berkeley, Driscoll served for six years (1981-87) as the director of athletics and chairman of the physical education department at Mills College, a women's college in Oakland, California. From 1977-81, Driscoll served as the assistant director of athletics at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He was responsible there for 22 men's and women's intercollegiate sports teams, including nationally-ranked football and hockey teams.

A 1974 graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, Driscoll played on the college's ECAC hockey team, serving as team captain for three years and earning recognition as the second highest scorer in the college's history. Driscoll holds a bachelor of science in physical education from Ithaca, and a master of science in psychology of sport/physical education, also from Ithaca.

Driscoll and his wife, Cathy, are the parents of three children: Tara, Kelly and Sean. The family expects a smooth transition to Rhode Island, due in part to their extensive network of family and friends throughout New England and the eastern United States.

Father Smith announced the appointment of the search committee for Providence College's new athletic director on August 2, 2001, and they began their work the following week. The search committee consisted of internal representatives from among faculty and administrative staff, as well as external members with long-held ties to the College. David Duffy, chairman of Duffy and Shanley, a Providence-based communications consulting firm and current chair of the Providence College President's Council, served as chair of the search committee. Dr. Kenneth Walker, a 1957 graduate of Providence College, with experience that includes service as a Division I basketball official and as chairman of the state parole board, served as vice chair.

Maurice Paradis, former Rhode Island director of business regulation and former president of an executive search firm, provided pro bono consulting assistance to the search committee in identifying a pool of qualified candidates. Paradis, a 1958 alumnus of the College, is currently associated with Executive Resources, Inc., a division of Spherion Corporation, an international human resources/ capital management organization headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Providence College, which is located in Providence, R.I., has 21 Division I athletic teams. The teams compete in the BIG EAST, HOCKEY EAST, Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference and the Metro Atlantic Atletic Conference.

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