Kent State Unveils Athletics' Strategic Plan
8/31/2021 12:19:00 PM | General, The Golden Flashes Club, Play As One
KENT, OHIO - Kent State Athletics is excited to unveil a new strategic plan that positions the department to have a meaningful impact on student-athletes, campus and community.
In alignment with Kent State University's mission and objectives, the "Play as One - #Flashes Forever" initiative was a team effort. The strategic planning process was chaired by Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Kathy Wilson in partnership with Director of Athletics, Randale Richmond and Senior Deputy Athletics Director, Greg Glaus.
In a collaborative effort, 13 departments helped develop the plan. "All parts of campus had a voice in its creation," Richmond said.
Every detail supports the department's mission: "GRADUATE student-athletes, BOLDLY prepared for life after sport, and WIN championships." The plan also aligns with the department's vision to be "A nationally recognized comprehensive athletics program that INSPIRES communities and TRANSFORMS lives."
The strategic planning process reinforces the guiding principle of the department as one that is "student-athlete centered, coach led, and administrator supported." After detailed research over the past few months, eight priority areas were created to outline the plan. These priority areas led to the creation of 20 goals, 45 strategies and 100 action items. Each goal, strategy and action item ensures that all decisions will support the overall mission, vision and guiding principle of Kent State Athletics.
The effort demonstrates the need for the university to continue to transform and re-imagine the role athletics plays at Kent State University. The integration of the Athletics department within the university is evidenced by the fact that more than half of the action items in the strategic plan will be accomplished working in conjunction with other divisions across the university.
"We are very excited for the foundation we have built, and look forward to its implementation," Richmond said. "This strategic plan could not have been done without the effort, help and support of our leadership team and our priority area working groups. The Kent State Athletic Department and Kent State University would like to thank each and every member who helped put this plan together."
"I would like to offer a special thank you to Dr. Kathy Wilson, our Athletics Faculty Representative," said Richmond. "Her consistent leadership throughout the strategic planning process has been imperative to the successful development of this plan. We are incredibly fortunate to have an advocate like Kathy supporting our athletics staff, student-athletes and the department as a whole."
Leadership Team (as of 8/31/21)
Amy Densevich - Associate Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Academic Services
Greg Glaus - Senior Deputy Athletics Director
Pamela Grimm – Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Jeff Hathaway - Managing Partner at CarrSports Consulting
Peter Holway - Foundation Board
Lamar Hylton - SVP for Student Affairs
Karen Keenan - Associate Chief of Staff – Office of the President
Nasha Manitkul-Davis - Student-Athlete; President of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Tiffany Murray - Director, Gender Equity and Title IX Coordinator
Gerald O'Dell - VP of Management Consulting at CarrSports Consulting
Mary Parker - Former VP for Enrollment Management
Mark Polatajko - Senior VP for Finance and Administration
John Rathje - VP Information Technology and CIO
Charlene Reed - VP and University Secretary
Randale Richmond – Kent State Director of Athletics
Trent Stratton – Kent State Senior Associate Athletics Director
Melody Tankersley - Senior VP and Provost
Isaac Vance – Kent State Football Student-Athlete and President of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Valoree Vargo - VP for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Connor Whelan - Assistant Athletics Director of Sales and Fan Experience at Wake Forest University
Kathryn Wilson – Former Faculty Athletics Representative and Professor of Economics
Priority Area Working Group Members
Academics And Career Development
- Angie Hull (Co-Chair) - Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services
-Katie Schilling (Co-Chair) - Associate Director for Student-Athlete Development
- Quintin Cooks – Kent State Track & Field Student-Athlete
- John Jewell - Assistant Dean, Academic Student Support Services
-Rob Marinaro - Head Women's Soccer Coach
-Bridget Opgenorth – Athletics Learning Specialist
-Jessica Roshak – Assistant Director, Student Leadership Development
-Anthony Vander-Horst – Associate Professor of Sociology/Member of Intercollegiate Athletics Committee
Competitiveness
-Randale Richmond (Chair) – Kent State Director of Athletics
-Madyson Cole - Softball Student-Athlete, VP of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
-Bill Lawson - Head Coach - Kent State Track and Field
-Bob Lemieux - Head Coach-Kent State Strength and Conditioning
-Sean Lewis - Head Coach - Kent State Football
-Lisa Strom – Former Head Coach – Kent State Women's Golf
-Rebecca Murphy – Interim VP - University Communications and Marketing
-Brianne Tierney - Head Coach - Kent State Women's Lacrosse
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
-Kerrie James-Hunter (Co-Chair) - Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services
-Stephanie Rosinski (Co-Chair) - Associate Athletic Director for Compliance
-Marquis Davis – Project Coordinator - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
-Tiffany Murray - Director, Gender Equity and Title IX Coordinator
-Donovan Robertson – Former Director of Advancement Operations
-Todd Starkey - Head Coach - Kent State Women's Basketball
-Danie Tyson - Kent State Volleyball Student-Athlete
-Theresa Walton-Fisette – Professor, Sport Administration
-Yvonna Washington-Greer - Assistant VP for Equity, Identity and Success
-Jameka Wilson - Director, Kent State One Stop
Engagement And Collaboration
-TJ Christie (Co-Chair) – Former Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Revenue Generation
-Matt Papatheodorou (Co-Chair) - Director, Athletics Marketing and Communication Strategy
-Sean Broghammer - VP for Enrollment Management
-Jeff Duncan - Head Coach - Kent State Baseball
-Meghan Factor-Page - Associate Director, Student Leadership Development Programs
-Garret Ferrara - Kent City Council/Kent State Alum
-Dana Lawless -Andric - Associate VP for University Outreach and Engagement
-Mark Lyberger-Associate Professor for Sports Administration
-Michael Papania – Project Manager - Campus IT
-Tom Sitko – Former General Manager - Learfield/Kent State Alum and Former Student-Athlete
Facilities
-David Rush (Chair) - Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations
-Kyle DeSandes-Moyer - Head Coach - Kent State Field Hockey
-Jay Frye – Director of Service Management - Campus IT
-Jay Graham - Interim Executive Director and University Architect
-Tianna Harris - Kent State Women's Soccer Student-Athlete for Kent State
-Eric Oakley - Head Coach - Kent State Softball
-Doug Pearson - Associate VP, University Facility Planning and Operations
-Rob Senderoff - Head Coach - Kent State Men's Basketball
-Nicholas Starvaggi - Associate Director, Donor Agreements and Stewardship
Financial Sustainability/Revenue Generation/Fundraising
-Maggie McKendry (Co-Chair) - Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Advancement
-Jon Wilson (Co-Chair) - Athletic Fiscal Manager
-Jim Andrassy - Head Coach - Kent State Wrestling
-Brenda Burke - Associate VP, Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Office
-Casey Cegles - Former Deputy Athletic Director
-Jen Kulics - Executive Director, Philanthropy
-Jeannie Reifsnyder - Senior Associate VP Finance & Administration
-Isaac Vance - Kent State Football Student-Athlete and President of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Organizational Excellence and Culture
-Amy Densevich (Chair) - Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services
-Brice Biggin- Head Coach - Kent State Gymnastics
-Nathan Fanger - Associate Head Coach - Kent State Track and Field
-Dan Griffin - Director of Athletics Communication
-Jon Mills - Head Coach - Kent State Men's Golf
-Rachel Rundo - Recruitment and Employment Coordinator
-Michelle Rura - Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine
-Phil Tizio – Associate Athletics Director for Compliance/Eligibility Coordinator
Student-Athlete Health, Safety and Well Being
-Trent Stratton (Chair) - Kent State Senior Associate Athletics Director
-Lisa Dannemiller - Chief University Physician
-Talea Drummer-Ferrell - Associate VP and Dean of Students
-Don Gromala - Former Head Coach - Kent State Volleyball
-Dr. John Gunstad - Professor & Associate Director for Brain Health Research Institute
-Chris Jenkins - Assistant Director of Public Safety & Captain - Kent State Police
-Eva Nikolai - Kent State Women's Lacrosse Student-Athlete
-Cliff Ragin - Head Equipment Manager
