Quinnipiac University’s retiring Director of Athletics and Recreation, Jack McDonald, has been named the associate vice president and director of athletics at the University of New England according to an announcement made by its athletics department earlier today.
In the announcement, University of New England President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D said, “Jack McDonald is the consummate builder. He brings to UNE, Maine’s largest private university, his experience, enthusiasm and energy to build our growing athletics program. We all welcome him and a new era of leadership for our athletics program.”
The University of New England is a division III school and is a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference with nine women’s sports and six men’s sports. Other schools in the conference include Endicott College, Western New England University, Curry College, Gordon College, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Nichols College, and Eastern Nazarene College.
Quinnipiac announced in late October of 2014 that McDonald would be retiring at the close of the year. McDonald served as the athletic director at Quinnipiac for 20 years.
In his time as athletic director, McDonald helped to build the TD Bank Sports Center, a 160,000 square foot facility that features separate state of the art venues for men’s and women’s basketball and ice hockey. He also facilitated Quinnipiac’s transition from a division II to a division I school in the 1998-1999 season. The program also moved higher in division I competition in July of 2013, from the Northeast Conference to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, under his leadership.
McDonald was also in charge when the school was sued in 2009 by members of the Quinnipiac women’s volleyball team for a Title IX claim. The lawsuit was filed after Quinnipiac announced it’s intent to get rid of the volleyball team in favor of the competitive cheer team. The university reached a settlement on the lawsuit in April of 2013.
Most recently, Quinnipiac’s Head Women’s Ice Hockey Coach, Rick Seeley, resigned from the school amid allegations of mental, verbal, and physical abuse. The Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network first reported that McDonald denied having knowledge of the accusations.
In Quinnipiac’s press release announcing McDonald’s retirement, Quinnipiac’s Executive Vice President and Provost Mark Thompson said, “Jack McDonald represents the very best of what makes Quinnipiac special: building community through a complete commitment to our student athletes and their families.”
Quinnipiac Public Affairs provided no further comment beyond the original press release of McDonald’s retirement to Q30 Sports.
McDonald will officially end his duties at Quinnipiac on June 30, 2015. Quinnipiac has yet to name a new director of athletics and recreation at this time.
