HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac University’s Executive Vice President and Provost Mark Thompson has announced that Jack McDonald will retire at the conclusion of his 20th year as the Bobcats’ director of athletics and recreation, effective on June 30, 2015.
“Jack McDonald represents the very best of what makes Quinnipiac special: building community through a complete commitment to our student athletes and their families,” Thompson said.
McDonald has steered Quinnipiac athletics through unparalleled growth during his 20 years as the department’s head, most notably as the guiding force in the University’s elevation from a NCAA Division II program to the Division I-AAA level, and the securing of NCAA certification in its first year at the Division I level.
“I cannot be more grateful to John Lahey, Manny Carreiro, Mark Thompson and my entire Athletics & Recreation staff for 20 years of incredible growth, success in athletics, outstanding academic achievement and, most of all, friendship and happiness,” McDonald said. “Quinnipiac will continue to be very successful and I feel very, very fortunate to be a part of the best athletic department in the country.”
McDonald was instrumental in the design and dedication of the TD Bank Sports Center – a dual-arena venue on our York Hill Campus that houses Quinnipiac’s men’s and women’s ice hockey and basketball programs. The impressive arena was a major factor in Quinnipiac ice hockey program’s move to the prestigious ECAC Hockey league in 2005-06.
Over the last 20 years, McDonald has guided the athletic department to 28 conference championships with 17 qualifying for the NCAA or equivalent national tournaments. Most notably, the men’s ice hockey program advanced to the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Game.
“In addition to Quinnipiac’s great athletic accomplishments, Jack should be even more proud that during his tenure, Quinnipiac student athletes have shown exponential growth in the classroom, posting cumulative grade-point average improvements in every year of his tenure,” Thompson added.
McDonald also implemented the highly successful “Positive Play” community involvement program.
Last year, McDonald was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) as the Under Armor Division I Athletic Director of the Year after he guided the transition of the department’s athletic programs from the Northeast Conference (NEC) to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). In addition, he secured the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four and National Championship Game at High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center.
“Karen and I wish Jack and his wife, Linda, and their four sons all the best in years to come,” Thompson said.
A Boston College graduate, Jack worked at the University of Denver and his alma mater before coming to Quinnipiac.