Athletics Director Robert G. Driscoll, Jr.

When Robert G. Driscoll, Jr. arrived at Providence College six years ago, he had drive, ambition and most importantly a vision for the future of Providence athletics. Since his hiring as the Associate Vice President for Athletics on November 2, 2001, Driscoll has reinvigorated the Providence College Athletics program, leading the charge to create one of the most respected programs in the nation, where each student-athlete graduates and has the opportunity to compete for championships.

The PC Athletics program has experienced constant improvement during Driscoll's tenure and the 2006-07 season was no different. Driscoll, along with his staff, raised a record of over $2 million during the 2006-07 fiscal year, surpassing the previous record of $1.7 million set in 2006. On May 12, the athletic department hosted one of the biggest events in the College's history - the 20th Anniversary of the 1986-87 Men's Basketball Final Four Friars. The event, held at the Rhode Island Convention Center, attracted a sell-out crowd of over 1,200 people and generated over $200,000. In addition, the College dedicated the "Helen Bert Student-Athlete Lounge," which serves as a computer/study area for all student-athletes.

Driscoll's leadership has been instrumental in several major construction projects on campus. In May of 2006, PC broke ground to construct a state-of-the-art $15 million fitness center, which opened in August of 2007. The Concannon Fitness Center is adjacent to the recently completed Friar Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. It houses the Friars' varsity weight room as well as administrative and coaching offices, conference rooms and lockerrooms. The construction project also provides the department with a state-of-the-art sports medicine complex and a new ticket office. During the 2006-07 season, two major renovations to Schneider Arena also were completed. All of the arena's 3,030 seats were replaced with silver and black seats to support the branding of the program. The women's hockey program received a new locker room, player's lounge and a training room.

In August of 2005, Providence celebrated the opening of the Friar Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, which is a six-million dollar artificial turf facility. The complex serves as home to PC's field hockey and lacrosse programs, as well as many of the College's intramural sports programs.

The construction continues beyond the friendly confines of the College. Driscoll has worked strategically with lead officials in the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island to help spearhead a $75-million renovation of the Dunkin' Donuts Center, which is home to the Friar men's basketball team. Renovations began in the spring of 2006 and are scheduled to be completed in 2008. Once complete, the Dunkin' Donuts Center also will be a state-of-the-art facility that will seat more than 13,000 fans. Renovations will enhance the PC fan/team experience by adding luxury boxes, new seats, a new video scoreboard, a new sound system, updated concession stands, locker rooms and new weight training and fitness areas. The planned renovations already have reaped benefits for the College, the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island as Providence was awarded the first and second rounds of the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

In 2006-07, the Friars continued their run of success under Driscoll's guidance. The men's and women's cross country teams each captured the BIG EAST championship and both advanced to the NCAA Championships, where the men's team placed ninth, and the women's squad finished seventh. In all, three fall teams advanced to the NCAAs. The men's soccer team enjoyed another stellar season, as it posted a 13-7 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. The field hockey team recorded one of the best seasons in program history, finishing the season with an 18-4 record, a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title, and a BIG EAST Tournament Championship game appearance. The men's basketball team posted an 18-13 record overall, advancing to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament and earning a berth to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The women's ice hockey team finished the season with a 16-16-4 mark and advanced to the HOCKEY EAST Tournament championship game. The lacrosse team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament crown and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years.

Five Providence College student-athletes combined to earn nine All-America honors. Aine Hoban (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) was a three-time All-American, while Martin Fagan (cross country, indoor track) garnered two All-America accolades. Max Smith (outdoor track), Rachel Chamberlain (field hockey), Lauren Sickel (field hockey) and Ryan Maduro (men's soccer) also earned All-America honors. The Friars also excelled in the classroom as 92 student-athletes were selected to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team, 16 were named to the HOCKEY EAST All-Academic Team and two earned MAAC All-Academic Team recognition.

Driscoll is one of 49 athletic administrators, faculty athletics representatives and institutional administrators currently serving a term on the NCAA Division I Management Council, which is empowered to make recommendations to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors. He was appointed to the council in May of 2004. Driscoll also represents the BIG EAST's Athletic Directors on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and serves on the HOCKEY EAST Television Negotiations Committee. He is a member-elect of the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship Committee.

Driscoll joined the Providence community after 14 years in athletic administration at the University of California, Berkeley. At Cal, Driscoll served as the director of athletic administration 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 sports medicine programs.

Driscoll was hired at Cal as the associate athletic director for student services, a position he held for five years. He managed areas such as recruiting, admissions, financial aid and football and basketball team travel. 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 also 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. At Union, he was responsible for 22 men's and women's intercollegiate sports teams, including nationally ranked football and hockey teams. 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's of Science in physical education/psychology of sports from Ithaca in 1975.

A native of 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, currently a junior at Providence. 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