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</TD><TD vAlign=top>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Position:
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics[/FONT]
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Experience:
First Year[/FONT]
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</TD><TD vAlign=top>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Alma Mater:
Kansas State, 1976 (JD - Washburn University, 1979)[/FONT]
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Jeff Schemmel, currently the associate commissioner for Governance and Legal Affairs with Conference USA and who served as executive director for the 2001 NCAA men's basketball Final Four, will be San Diego State University's new director of intercollegiate athletics, SDSU President Stephen L. Weber announced today.
"Jeff brings versatile talent and experience from some of collegiate athletics' biggest programs and events to help lead our Athletics department," Weber said. "He has a track record of success as a high-ranking administrator for a major Big Ten university and for Conference USA. He has been extremely adept at attracting major events, hiring top coaches, and expanding revenue streams and private support. He's an expert on complex compliance issues. Most importantly, he is committed to running a first-rate athletics program dedicated to the success of our student athletes on the field and in the classroom that will build pride among our university, alumni and fans."
Schemmel has agreed to a five-year contract and officially will start at SDSU on July 18.
"I am thrilled and honored to join the Aztec Athletics program," Schemmel said. "I want to continue the good work already begun in support of our student athletes and coaches. At the same time, I know the university and the community are eager to see competitive success. We will be committed to doing all we can in every sport we sponsor to win consistently and with integrity."
Britton Banowsky, commissioner of Conference USA, said, "Jeff understands higher education and is totally committed to operating athletics with an academic focus and within the rules," Banowsky said. "He does not tolerate anything but the highest standards of compliance. That is the bottom line. Jeff is one of the brightest administrators in college athletics and is well prepared to lead an athletics department. He has done a great job for Conference USA. San Diego State University is fortunate to get him, and we will miss him."
Prior to working at Conference USA, Schemmel served as senior vice president and executive director of development for Arizona State University from February 2003 to October 2004. From 1991 to 2003 he worked at the University of Minnesota, the last nine years as senior associate athletics director and chief operating officer. He also was an assistant director of athletics at Kansas State University from 1998-1991. As an administrator at Kansas State from 1988-1991, Schemmel helped hire football coach Bill Snyder, who boasts a 135-69-1 record in 16 seasons at Kansas State. At Minnesota, Schemmel played a major role in hiring head football coach Glen Mason and men's basketball coach Dan Monson. Mason elevated the football program from the lower end of the Big Ten conference into a team that's played in four bowl games in the last five years, and Monson has rebuilt with integrity a team depleted by disciplinary measures into a program competitive in one of the country's toughest basketball conferences.
Schemmel's development accomplishments at the University of Minnesota include supervising operations that achieved significant increases in annual marketing support and fund raising levels, as well as a successful $3 million football capital improvement campaign. While at Minnesota he also helped raise $1.6 million to put on the NCAA men's basketball Final Four at Minneapolis.
"I'm looking forward to getting started and working with the Athletics staff on a variety of projects," Schemmel said. "These projects include making a push to significantly increase scholarship support for our student athletes, and ensuring SDSU continues to have a prominent place in discussions about the future of a football stadium in San Diego."
Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson lauded Schemmel's arrival in the conference.
"Jeff Schemmel is a true professional and will bring tremendous experience to both San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference," said MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson. "His involvement in nearly every aspect of intercollegiate athletics will serve all well. I've known Jeff since the late 1970s, but have never had the opportunity until now to work with him on a daily basis. It is something I eagerly anticipate doing." Prior to working in collegiate sports, Schemmel practiced business and sports law in Kansas for 10 years. He also worked as an ABC television and Time Magazine correspondent at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Schemmel received a law degree from Washburn University in Topeka in 1979, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Kansas State University in 1976. At Kansas State, he was a four-time All-American in track and field (1972-1976) and an NCAA champion in the distance medley relay (1975).
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>
First Year[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Kansas State, 1976 (JD - Washburn University, 1979)[/FONT]
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</TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Jeff Schemmel, currently the associate commissioner for Governance and Legal Affairs with Conference USA and who served as executive director for the 2001 NCAA men's basketball Final Four, will be San Diego State University's new director of intercollegiate athletics, SDSU President Stephen L. Weber announced today.
"Jeff brings versatile talent and experience from some of collegiate athletics' biggest programs and events to help lead our Athletics department," Weber said. "He has a track record of success as a high-ranking administrator for a major Big Ten university and for Conference USA. He has been extremely adept at attracting major events, hiring top coaches, and expanding revenue streams and private support. He's an expert on complex compliance issues. Most importantly, he is committed to running a first-rate athletics program dedicated to the success of our student athletes on the field and in the classroom that will build pride among our university, alumni and fans."
Schemmel has agreed to a five-year contract and officially will start at SDSU on July 18.
"I am thrilled and honored to join the Aztec Athletics program," Schemmel said. "I want to continue the good work already begun in support of our student athletes and coaches. At the same time, I know the university and the community are eager to see competitive success. We will be committed to doing all we can in every sport we sponsor to win consistently and with integrity."
Britton Banowsky, commissioner of Conference USA, said, "Jeff understands higher education and is totally committed to operating athletics with an academic focus and within the rules," Banowsky said. "He does not tolerate anything but the highest standards of compliance. That is the bottom line. Jeff is one of the brightest administrators in college athletics and is well prepared to lead an athletics department. He has done a great job for Conference USA. San Diego State University is fortunate to get him, and we will miss him."
Prior to working at Conference USA, Schemmel served as senior vice president and executive director of development for Arizona State University from February 2003 to October 2004. From 1991 to 2003 he worked at the University of Minnesota, the last nine years as senior associate athletics director and chief operating officer. He also was an assistant director of athletics at Kansas State University from 1998-1991. As an administrator at Kansas State from 1988-1991, Schemmel helped hire football coach Bill Snyder, who boasts a 135-69-1 record in 16 seasons at Kansas State. At Minnesota, Schemmel played a major role in hiring head football coach Glen Mason and men's basketball coach Dan Monson. Mason elevated the football program from the lower end of the Big Ten conference into a team that's played in four bowl games in the last five years, and Monson has rebuilt with integrity a team depleted by disciplinary measures into a program competitive in one of the country's toughest basketball conferences.
Schemmel's development accomplishments at the University of Minnesota include supervising operations that achieved significant increases in annual marketing support and fund raising levels, as well as a successful $3 million football capital improvement campaign. While at Minnesota he also helped raise $1.6 million to put on the NCAA men's basketball Final Four at Minneapolis.
"I'm looking forward to getting started and working with the Athletics staff on a variety of projects," Schemmel said. "These projects include making a push to significantly increase scholarship support for our student athletes, and ensuring SDSU continues to have a prominent place in discussions about the future of a football stadium in San Diego."
Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson lauded Schemmel's arrival in the conference.
"Jeff Schemmel is a true professional and will bring tremendous experience to both San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference," said MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson. "His involvement in nearly every aspect of intercollegiate athletics will serve all well. I've known Jeff since the late 1970s, but have never had the opportunity until now to work with him on a daily basis. It is something I eagerly anticipate doing." Prior to working in collegiate sports, Schemmel practiced business and sports law in Kansas for 10 years. He also worked as an ABC television and Time Magazine correspondent at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Schemmel received a law degree from Washburn University in Topeka in 1979, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Kansas State University in 1976. At Kansas State, he was a four-time All-American in track and field (1972-1976) and an NCAA champion in the distance medley relay (1975).
