AD Riccio Making Moves in Athletic Department

On Nov. 5, Sacred Heart  University Athletic Director Judy Ann Riccio appointed Mike Morrison and Tammy Petrucelli to the role of deputy athletic directors. They both formerly were senior associate athletic directors.

For Riccio, who has only been the director of athletics full time since Sept. 8,  this is one of the first major promotions she has made since taking over the job from former Athletic Director Bobby Valentine.

“These individuals both bring remarkable experience and skills to their distinct roles and quickly established themselves as crucial to the department’s strategic initiatives,” Riccio said in a press release. “Tammy and Mike consistently go above and beyond and perform at the level of excellence that I expect of senior administration.”

What this promotion means for Morrison and Petrucelli is that they will much more say in day-to-day  operations within Sacred Heart athletics. Riccio noted the planned renovation of the Pitt Center and Campus Field and the continued construction of the new Martire Family Arena as initiatives that Morrison and Petrucelli will now be able to pursue further thanks to their promotion.

“This change will allow us to move forward with continuous improvement,” Riccio said.

Overseeing the improvement of the department is something Morrison has experience with, as in the five years that he has been at Sacred Heart, he has helped the university raise more than eight million dollars in fundraising money.

Morrison’s impact led to a 23% increase in donations during the 2018-19 year, and largely due to that effort, he has earned this promotion.

“Sacred Heart University is a renowned institution that has exceptional people, transformational facilities and has quickly become home,” said Morrison. “I look forward to working with and supporting our talented coaches and student-athletes in this new role.”

As deputy athletic director, he will now serve as the department’s liaison for advancement, communications and marketing and sponsorships, as well as oversee the facilities and operations area.

Petrucelli has been at Sacred Heart for 10 years, with seven of those years spent in the athletic department. She has aided Sacred Heart student-athletes off the field through ways such as helping them focus on time management and register for classes and by growing the Faculty Athletic Mentor Program.

In addition, she is the department’s Senior Woman Administrator (SWA). As the SWA, she helps promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.

“To quote Ruth Bader Ginsberg, ‘Women belong in all places where decisions are being made,’” Petrucelli said. “We are truly experiencing this at SHU with the recent promotions of Judy Ann Riccio, Robin Cautin as our Provost and the numerous female deans of colleges at the university.”

After the promotion, she will now oversee academic services for student-athletes and will work with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to ensure that the university is meeting all NCAA and Title IX compliances.

“My goal is to continue to listen, reflect, be inquisitive and create an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard,” Petrucelli said. “I hope to help create an inclusive environment that will allow our student-athletes, coaches and staff to be their authentic self and find success, however they define it.”

Sacred Heart Athletics contributed to this article.

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