Associate Vice President/Athletics Director Robert G. Driscoll, Jr.
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Since Robert G. Driscoll was hired as the Associate Vice President for Athletics on November 2, 2001, Providence College athletics has experienced unprecedented growth in academic and athletic performance, fundraising, facilities and community involvement. Driscoll has reinvigorated the Providence College Athletics program, leading the charge with a vision of creating one of the most respected programs in the nation, where each student-athlete graduates and has the opportunity to compete for championships. Driscoll was recognized for his efforts on June 10, 2008 as he was named the 2007-08 Astro Turf Athletics Director of the Year for Division I Northeast Region at the 43rd National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Annual Convention. He also was honored in 2009 by his alma mater, Ithaca College, where he received the Distinguished Sport Industry Leader award during alumni weekend. Most recently, he was elected as Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Secretary.
In addition to academic and athletic excellence, Driscoll has placed a strong emphasis on the enhancement of facilities at Providence. Driscoll worked strategically with lead officials in the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island to help spearhead an $80 million renovation of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, which is home to the Friar men’s basketball team. The renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center is once again a state-of-the-art facility that seats over 12,600 fans. Renovations have enhanced the game-day experience by adding 20 luxury boxes, new seats, a video scoreboard, sound system, updated restaurant and concession stands, team store, locker rooms and new weight training and fitness areas. As a result, Providence College, the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island hosted the First and Second Rounds of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, which was a complete success.
The College recently approved renovation plans for Alumni Hall, which is the practice facility for men’s basketball and home courts for women’s basketball and volleyball. Construction will begin in the spring of 2012. In addition, the College gained approval for a state-of-the-art soccer, lacrosse and track athletic complex adjacent to Schneider Arena, which also will be renovated. Included in this complex will be a 30,000 square-foot facility connected to Schneider Arena which will house locker rooms and other facilities for athletic teams. The College also will build a new softball complex and tennis courts on Hendricken Field.
Athletically, Providence experienced success in 2010-11. The men’s soccer team earned its way to the championship match of the BIG EAST Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Friars played their first home NCAA Championship game and posted a 6-2 win over Saint Peter’s to advance to the Second Round for the second time in school history. The women’s cross country team qualified for the NCAA Championship for the 22nd consecutive season and placed in the top-10 (ninth) for the 17th time in school history. The men’s team also earned a berth to the NCAA Championship, its fifth consecutive appearance and 15th in the last 16 years. There were eight Friars crowned All-Americans. Marshon Brooks became the first PC basketball player to be named to the Associated Press All-America Team since Ryan Gomes in 2004. Brooks also set the BIG EAST single-game and single-season scoring records. Lee Carey, who led the men’s cross country team to a third-place finish at the BIG EAST Championship by capturing the individual title, also earned All-America accolades. Shelby Greany was crowned All-American twice (cross country and indoor track – 3,000 meters). Hannah Davidson also was named All-American as she ran the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships. Julian Matthews garnered two All-America honors (indoor track – mile, outdoor track – 1,500 meters). David McCarthy rounded out the list of All-Americans as he earned the honor in the indoor 3,000 meters. In addition, Providence College finished seventh out of 95 Division I-AAA schools in the 2010-11 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup.
In addition to the upcoming renovations to Alumni Hall and Schneider Arena as well as the state-of-the art soccer and lacrosse complex, there have been numerous other facility improvements in Alumni Hall. The men’s basketball offices, hallway and locker rooms were renovated, thanks to a generous gift from Providence College alumnus Joe Calabria ‘65. The Joe Calabria Hallway of Legends was dedicated in January of 2009. Consisting of nine exhibit areas and seven display cases, the hallway features players and teams from each era of the Providence College basketball program. The hallway's floor is a replica of the Friars' Dave Gavitt Court at the Dunkin' Donuts Center and the project also includes a complete renovation of the coaches’ offices, the film room and the team's locker room.
The men’s soccer program received a generous donation from John Murphy ‘80 and renovated the soccer offices. The Joyce Murphy Soccer Suite opened in November of 2008. The suite features new offices, meeting spaces and a lounge area equipped with flat screen televisions. The men’s soccer locker room also was refurbished thanks to a donation by Kerry and Karl Anderson ‘87. With the creation of the BIG EAST Lacrosse Conference, the lacrosse offices were renovated to go along with a new locker room. The volleyball locker room also was renovated and a new women’s basketball video room was created. In addition, the track/cross country offices and the women’s soccer offices also were refurbished. The Helen Bert Student-Athlete Study Lounge, which was opened in 2007, was recently expanded. Thanks to a generous donation from Judge Bill Leary ’60 and his wife, Emily, the Friends of Friar Hockey Room also was renovated at Schneider Arena. The Bill and Emily Leary Friends of Friar Room includes plasma televisions, high-top counters and meeting space for the teams. In addition, a media library room displaying the history of Friar Hockey was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Bob O’Connor ’62.
In August of 2007, the Concannon Fitness Center, a state-of-the-art $18 million facility, was opened. The Concannon Fitness Center is adjacent to the $6 million Lennon Family Field (Astroturf facility), which was completed in August 2005. The Fitness Center houses the Friars’ Jimmy Walker Strength and Conditioning Center as well as administrative and coaching offices, conference rooms and locker rooms. The construction project also provides the department with a state-of-the-art sports medicine complex and a new ticket office. The Canavan Sports Medicine Center, which was completed in August of 2008, is equipped with a hydrotherapy room, which includes a SwimEx rehab pool and two plunges for cold/hot therapy.
Many of the College’s athletic improvements were made possible through Driscoll's fundraising efforts. In each of the 10 years that Driscoll has led the Friars, the athletic department has exceeded its fundraising goals and has generated millions of dollars that have been utilized for student-athlete development and facility enhancements.
Driscoll served as the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship Committee Chair in 2010-11. He also represents the BIG EAST’s Athletic Directors on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, serves on the BIG EAST Finance Committee and the HOCKEY EAST Television Negotiations Committee. He previously served on the NCAA Division I Management Council and was an NCAA Fellows Programs Executive Mentor.
Driscoll joined the Providence community after 14½ years in athletic administration at the University of California, Berkeley. At Cal, Driscoll served as the Executive Associate Athletic Director and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department as well as overseeing football, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s water polo, rugby, strength training, equipment and the sports medicine programs.
Driscoll was hired at Cal as the Associate Athletic Director for Student Services, a position he held for five years. He then assumed the position of Executive Associate Athletic Director, at which point he was responsible for the administration of 27 varsity sports. During his tenure at Cal, he oversaw 25 club sports, a staff of 250 and a $36 million budget. Prior to coming to Providence, he served as the Acting Executive Director for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports. During his tenure, Cal won over 20 national championships, competed in the Citrus, Copper, Alamo and Aloha Bowls, NCAA Basketball Tournaments and the College World Series for baseball and softball. The Bears also finished as high as 12th in the NACDA Directors’ Cup.
Before arriving at Cal, Driscoll served six years (1981-87) as the Athletic Director and Chair of the Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Intramural Sports at Mills College in Oakland, Calif. Prior to arriving at Mills, Driscoll was Assistant Athletic Director and Head Baseball and Hockey Coach at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. from 1977-81. Driscoll was a stand-out hockey and baseball player at Ithaca College (N.Y.), where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1974. He earned his Master of Science in Physical Education/Psychology of Sports from Ithaca in 1975.
A native of West Concord, Mass., Driscoll was inducted into the inaugural class of Concord-Carlisle High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame (football, ice hockey and baseball) in 1993. He is the proud father of three children: Tara, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley; Kelly, a graduate of the University of Michigan; and Sean, a graduate of Providence College. He and his wife Cathy reside in North Kingstown.
THE DRISCOLL FILE
FULL NAME: Robert G. Driscoll, Jr.
BIRTHDATE: September 6, 1952
FAMILY: Wife, Cathy; daughters, Tara and Kelly; son, Sean.
COLLEGE:
Ithaca College `74 -- B.S. Physical Education
Ithaca College `75 -- M.S. Psychology of Sport
EXPERIENCE:
2004 - Athletic Director/Associate Vice President for Athletics, Providence College
2002-04 - Athletic Director/Assistant Vice President for Athletics, Providence College
2001 - Senior Associate Athletic Director, Capital Projects, University of California, Berkeley
2000-01 - Acting Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports, University of California, Berkeley
1999-00 - Director of Athletic Administration/Sports, University of California, Berkeley
1992-99 - Executive Associate Athletic Director, University of California, Berkeley
1991-92 - Associate Athletic Director - Varsity Sports Program, University of California, Berkeley
1987-91 - Associate Athletic Director - Student Services, University of California, Berkeley
1981-87 - Director of Athletics, Mills College
1977-81 - Assistant Director of Athletics, Union College
1975-77 - Director of Intramural, Recreational and Physical Education Programs, Union College
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS AT PROVIDENCE COLLEGE THROUGH THE YEARS
Francis A. Howley, O.P. - January, 1920 - December, 1925
Frederick J. Baeszler, O.P. - December, 1925 - December, 1933
Edward H. Schmidt, O.P. - February, 1934 - December, 1937
Robert G. Quinn, O.P. - December, 1937 - January, 1940
Vincent C. Dore, O.P. - January, 1940 - September, 1941
Aloysius B. Begley, O.P. - September, 1941 - June, 1971
David R. Gavitt - June, 1971 - July, 1982
Louis A. Lamoriello - July, 1982 - April, 1987
John M. Marinatto - August, 1987 - July, 2001
Robert G. Driscoll, Jr. - November, 2001 - Present
