The University of Akron Athletics
Lisa Sabol Named Senior Associate Athletics Director for Principal Gifts
January 09 | General
The University of Akron (UA) Athletics Department welcomes Lisa Sabol as the new Senior Associate Athletic Director for Principal Gifts, Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich announced Jan. 8, 2026.
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"Lisa cares deeply about the University of Akron and her leadership skills combined with her community connections make her a perfect fit to elevate our philanthropic and competitive goal to become the pound-for-pound best athletics department in the nation," AD Goodrich said.
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Sabol has a rich history at UA as she transitions to the Athletics Department after serving 11 years with the UA Advancement Office as a Development Officer, and most recently as a Senior Director of Principal Gifts for the College of Business.
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"I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Athletics Department and to continue cultivating strong relationships with alumni and friends of The University of Akron," Sabol said. "UA is fortunate to have such a loyal and dedicated community of supporters who are deeply committed to our students. I look forward to continuing to work alongside them and to meeting new members of Zips Nation as we support the success of our student-athletes, both on and off the field."
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Sabol is a proven fundraiser with excellent leadership skills who appreciates and nurtures an accountable, goal-oriented and values-based work environment. She will actively build and manage a strategically focused portfolio of major ($25,000+) and principal gifts ($1,000,000+) prospects and donors by guiding their cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, while at the same time setting goals to expand the base of major gift prospects.Â
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"Despite a nation-wide search, it was clear that the best person for the job was already here at Akron with us," Â Senior Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer Matt Pottorff said. "Lisa's experience, knowledge, and passion for the University of Akron stood out to us, and we're thrilled that she's now a part of our team."
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Prior to joining The University of Akron, Sabol spent 12 years as a development officer at Western Reserve Academy a private boarding school in Hudson, Ohio.
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Sabol earned an MBA from The University of Akron and an undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton.
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The Senior Associate Athletic Director for Principal Gifts will build strong and mutually beneficial relationships between academic leadership, faculty and staff and donors, alumni, business, and community leaders. They will also help manage the annual fund. This primary focus will be to drive fundraising activity at the major and principal gifts to the University which support scholarships, programs, facility enhancements and capital projects working in coordination with the Vice President of Advancement and Assistant Vice President of Principal Giving, among other colleagues in Advancement at the University. This position will be visible in the campus community, at Athletics events, and across the greater Akron community and is expected to work a significant number of events throughout the year.
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"Lisa cares deeply about the University of Akron and her leadership skills combined with her community connections make her a perfect fit to elevate our philanthropic and competitive goal to become the pound-for-pound best athletics department in the nation," AD Goodrich said.
Â
Sabol has a rich history at UA as she transitions to the Athletics Department after serving 11 years with the UA Advancement Office as a Development Officer, and most recently as a Senior Director of Principal Gifts for the College of Business.
Â
"I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Athletics Department and to continue cultivating strong relationships with alumni and friends of The University of Akron," Sabol said. "UA is fortunate to have such a loyal and dedicated community of supporters who are deeply committed to our students. I look forward to continuing to work alongside them and to meeting new members of Zips Nation as we support the success of our student-athletes, both on and off the field."
Â
Sabol is a proven fundraiser with excellent leadership skills who appreciates and nurtures an accountable, goal-oriented and values-based work environment. She will actively build and manage a strategically focused portfolio of major ($25,000+) and principal gifts ($1,000,000+) prospects and donors by guiding their cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, while at the same time setting goals to expand the base of major gift prospects.Â
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"Despite a nation-wide search, it was clear that the best person for the job was already here at Akron with us," Â Senior Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer Matt Pottorff said. "Lisa's experience, knowledge, and passion for the University of Akron stood out to us, and we're thrilled that she's now a part of our team."
Â
Prior to joining The University of Akron, Sabol spent 12 years as a development officer at Western Reserve Academy a private boarding school in Hudson, Ohio.
Â
Sabol earned an MBA from The University of Akron and an undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton.
Â
The Senior Associate Athletic Director for Principal Gifts will build strong and mutually beneficial relationships between academic leadership, faculty and staff and donors, alumni, business, and community leaders. They will also help manage the annual fund. This primary focus will be to drive fundraising activity at the major and principal gifts to the University which support scholarships, programs, facility enhancements and capital projects working in coordination with the Vice President of Advancement and Assistant Vice President of Principal Giving, among other colleagues in Advancement at the University. This position will be visible in the campus community, at Athletics events, and across the greater Akron community and is expected to work a significant number of events throughout the year.
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