Quinnipiac Director of Athletics and Recreation Jack McDonald To Retire In June 2015

HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac University’s Executive Vice President and Provost Mark Thompson has announced that Jack McDonald will retire at the conclusion of his 20th year as the Bobcats’ director of athletics and recreation, effective on June 30, 2015.

“Jack McDonald represents the very best of what makes Quinnipiac special: building community through a complete commitment to our student athletes and their families,” Thompson said.

McDonald has steered Quinnipiac athletics through unparalleled growth during his 20 years as the department’s head, most notably as the guiding force in the University’s elevation from a NCAA Division II program to the Division I-AAA level, and the securing of NCAA certification in its first year at the Division I level.

“I cannot be more grateful to John Lahey, Manny Carreiro, Mark Thompson and my entire Athletics & Recreation staff for 20 years of incredible growth, success in athletics, outstanding academic achievement and, most of all, friendship and happiness,” McDonald said. “Quinnipiac will continue to be very successful and I feel very, very fortunate to be a part of the best athletic department in the country.”

McDonald was instrumental in the design and dedication of the TD Bank Sports Center – a dual-arena venue on our York Hill Campus that houses Quinnipiac’s men’s and women’s ice hockey and basketball programs. The impressive arena was a major factor in Quinnipiac ice hockey program’s move to the prestigious ECAC Hockey league in 2005-06.

Over the last 20 years, McDonald has guided the athletic department to 28 conference championships with 17 qualifying for the NCAA or equivalent national tournaments. Most notably, the men’s ice hockey program advanced to the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Game.

“In addition to Quinnipiac’s great athletic accomplishments, Jack should be even more proud that during his tenure, Quinnipiac student athletes have shown exponential growth in the classroom, posting cumulative grade-point average improvements in every year of his tenure,” Thompson added.

McDonald also implemented the highly successful “Positive Play” community involvement program.

Last year, McDonald was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) as the Under Armor Division I Athletic Director of the Year after he guided the transition of the department’s athletic programs from the Northeast Conference (NEC) to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). In addition, he secured the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four and National Championship Game at High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center.

“Karen and I wish Jack and his wife, Linda, and their four sons all the best in years to come,” Thompson said.

A Boston College graduate, Jack worked at the University of Denver and his alma mater before coming to Quinnipiac. McDonald was also inducted to the Boston College (1982) and the Archbishop Williams High School (1997) Hall of Fames.

In addition to assisting the University with raising funds for scholarships and facilities, McDonald has overseen fund-raising programs for the Quinnipiac community and charities, as well as raise thousands of dollars in his own community with the Irish Eyes are Miling (Cheshire Relay for Life), Labor Day Movie Night (Petit Family Foundation) and the Gurnet Saquish Beach Run (Gurnet Saquish Fire Fund).

 

DISTINCTIONS AND HONORS

Committees

2013 – 17 Chair, NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Committee

2011 – 14 NACDA Executive Committee

2011 – 15 NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics

2011 – 12 Chair, ECAC Hockey Executive Committee

2008 – 09 President NACDA IAAA Athletic Director’s Association

2007 – 08 1st Vice President NACDA IAAA Athletic Director’s Association

2007 –      NACDA IAAA Executive Committee

2006 – 08 President, Great Western Lacrosse League

2005 – 06 Steering Committee & Campus Liaison — NCAA Certification

2005 – 06 Chair, NCAA Championship Cabinet, Travel Policies Committee

2003 – 07 NCAA Certification – Peer Reviewer

2002 – 06 Member, NCAA Division I Championships and Competition Cabinet

1998 – 02 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee (Chair 2001-2002)

1999 – 09 President – New England Track & Field Association

1994 NCAA Men’s Basketball Mid-West Region Ranking Committee

1994 Colorado Athletic Conference, Chair – Athletic Directors

1993-94 Executive Committee – NACDA

1992-94 NCAA Hockey Western Region Ranking Committee

1992-94 Board of Directors – Colorado Sports Council

1992-94 Member – Student Life Council, University of Denver

1990-92 Member – Student Retention Committee, University of Denver

1990 Member – Physically Challenged Advisory Committee, Boston College

1987-90 Chair – BIG EAST Cross-Country Committee

 

Honors

2014 NACDA IAAA Athletic Director of the Year

2014 Connecticut Sports & Visitors Bureau – Bring it Home Award

2013 St. Francis Award from Franciscan Life Center

2013 Inaugural Irish Sports 50 by the Irish Voice

2004 New Haven Register Sports Person of the Year Nominee

2000 Quinnipiac United Way Campaign Chair

1996 Archbishop Williams High School Hall of Fame Inductee

1993 Recipient – All University Pioneer Award, University of Denver

1989 BIG EAST Conference “Decade of Excellence” Award

1986-87 NCAA District 1 & New England Track & Field Coach of the Year

1984-86 President – BIG EAST & Greater Boston Track & Field/Cross-Country Coaches Association

1984 NCAA District 1 Cross-Country Coach of the Year

1984 New Englnd & BIG EAST Cross-Country Coach of the Year

1982 Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame Inductee

1976 New England Indoor Mile Record Holder (4:00.9)

1972-73 Captain, Boston College Cross-country and Track & Field Teams

1971-73 Three-time New England Intercollegiate Mile Champion

1969 Archbishop Williams HS – One Mile Run Record Holder (4:17.8)

1969 All State One Mile Runnerup – Archbishop Williams HS

1969 Class D Indoor & Outdoor Mile Champion – Archbishop William HS

 

Presentations/Instruction/Consulting

2013 – Professor – Sports Administration, Quinnipiac University

2000 – Present Guest Lecturer at Quinnipiac Schools of Business and Communications

1994 Instructor – Sports Management , University of Denver

1993 Moderator – NACDA Roundtable, “Networking & Email in Athletics ”

1991-93 Instructor – Freshman Experience, University of Denver

1991 Moderator – NACDA Roundtable “Computerizing via the Macintosh ”

1980-82 Co-Director – National Youth Sports Programs (NYSP) Youth Camp

1984-87 Co-Director – John Hancock Running & Fitness Clinics

1984-88 Consultant – Saucony/Spot-Bilt Athletic Footwear

1980-84 Consultant – Reebok U.S.A. Limited

1979-87 Meet Director BIG EAST Cross-Country Championships

 

Founder – New Programs & Events

2014 – Host 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four

2009 – Founder/Host Gurnet Saquish Beach Run to Benefit Gurnet Saquish Fire Fund

2000 – Director – Quinnipiac University Games

1997 – Founder/Host Rustic Lane Movie Night to Benefit Petit Family Foundation

1996 – Founder, Irish Eyes Are Miling to Benefit Cheshire Relay for Life

1998 Co-Founder – MAAC Hockey League

1996 Co-Founder – Quinnipiac Midnight Madness

1996 Founder – QUINNIPIAC CUP Ice Hockey Tournament

1992 Co-Founder – Gender Equity Task Force, University of Denver

1992 Founder – DENVER CUP Holiday Hockey Tournament

1991 Founder – Student-Athlete Advisory Council, University of Denver

1978-88 Founder/Meet Director, Boston College Holiday Track Classic

1975-88 Founder/Director Gurnet Classic Beach Run, Duxbury, MA

1973 Founder/Managing Director, Greater Boston Track Club

 

Other Activities

1990 Boston Red Sox Video (& Manual) Scoreboard Crew at Fenway Park

1988-89 Volunteer – Boston School Department College Bound Program