The University of Akron Athletics
SPECIAL EDITION: Zips Line – June 11, 2015
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Zips Nation:
Usually, I would use these communications to praise the newsworthy achievements of our student-athletes and coaches. Today, I want to share with you some personal and professional news: Effective Tuesday, June 16, I will be leaving my post as the Director of Athletics at The University of Akron to become a Senior Vice President with Learfield Sports, based in Dallas, Texas. This is an extraordinary opportunity to work in a leadership capacity in the rapidly growing field of sponsorship and multimedia rights in intercollegiate athletics.
Of course leaving Akron is not easy to do, after six years of learning and loving this community. My family will miss so many things: standing until the first basket at basketball games; singing "I Believe That We Have Won" when we've won another soccer match; sitting with you at countless games and cheering on the Blue and Gold together. Zips Nation became an extended family to my wife, Kelly, and our sons, J.T. and Jack. Thank you so much for being so welcoming.
Together, we have created so many memories. The achievements of our student athletes and coaches over these past years will be forever etched in our memory and in our hearts:
- Winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, the first and only team national title in our history
- Winning the MAC Tournament and going to the NCAA Tournament with Men's Basketball in 2011 and 2013, and doing it for the first time ever with Women's Basketball in 2014
- Seeing our women's programs continue to blossom, as Swimming & Diving and Tennis each won back-to-back MAC titles, the first-ever crowns for those programs
- Earning the Reese Trophy for the first time in school history by having the most successful men's program overall in the MAC in 2013-14
- Building, renovating or improving many athletic facilities, including FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, Men's and Women's Basketball Team Lounges, Training Room and the Weight Room, and the Outdoor Tennis Courts
- Earning the Excellence in Management Cup for having the most economically efficient Division I athletics department, and
- Seeing our success extend beyond the playing field, as we rewrote our academic record book (including winning the MAC Academic Award in 2011 for the highest aggregate student-athlete GPA) and setting new highs for GPAs, graduation rates and community service involvement.
None of this could have been possible without the work ethic and commitment of our incredible student-athletes, a truly dedicated staff, coaches and administrators who do everything in their power to support student success, as well as our donors, season ticket holders, sponsors and fans. You know as well as I do that this is a special place, and I leave a piece of my heart behind, wishing you all continued success. I am proud to be a Zip forever! Thank you!
Tom Wistrcill
Director of Athletics
