Video Message from Jack McDonaldBIDDEFORD, Maine – University of New England President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., announced today (May 11) the appointment of Jack McDonald to the position of associate vice president and director of athletics.
President Ripich 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."
In making the announcement, President Ripich ended a nationwide search lasting several months. She acknowledged that UNE had numerous qualified candidates, noting that the search was an intense process, but that McDonald brought the right combination of history and passion about athletics to the position.
Ripich said, "Jack's record really speaks for itself. As UNE continues to grow its program, his history of stewardship around athletics will be a significant contribution."
McDonald comes to UNE from NCAA Division I Quinnipiac University, where he served as the Bobcats' director of athletics for 20 years. Prior to his tenure at Quinnipiac, McDonald was director of athletics at the University of Denver (1990-95) and assistant athletic director for marketing at Boston College (1987-90).
While at Quinnipiac McDonald was instrumental in the Bobcats making the transition from being a NCAA Division II institution to its current status as a Division I member. He also successfully gained conference membership for Quinnipiac to the Metro Atlantic Athletics Conference, as well as ECAC Hockey for both the men's and women's ice hockey programs.
An accomplished fundraiser and visionary, McDonald played an integral role in the design, construction and dedication of the TD Bank Sports Center – a 160,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that has separate venues for Quinnipiac's basketball and ice hockey programs. McDonald also brokered television, radio and Internet packages for the Bobcats, including competitions seen on NESN, ESPN3 and ESPNU.
Quinnipiac won 33 conference championships and made 21 NCAA Championship appearances during McDonald's tenure and had its most successful sports season in 2012-13 when the Bobcats garnered four conference titles, saw three teams advance to Final Fours, and two squads compete for a national championship. That same academic year, Quinnipiac had its highest department-wide cumulative grade point average and had the most student-athletes ever with a GPA of 3.1 or higher.
McDonald is very active with committee work at the national level. He is chairperson of the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Committee and recently finished a term on the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Executive Committee. He previously served on the NCAA Championships and Competition Cabinet, as well as being chairperson of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Committee. McDonald was president of Great Western Lacrosse from 2006-08 and has also been the president of the New England ICAAA, the regional governing body of men's track and field.
McDonald was named the NACDA Under Armour NCAA Division IAAA Athletic Director of the Year in 2013-14 and also hosted the 2014 NCAA Women's Ice Hockey National Championship at Quinnipiac's High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center. McDonald was inducted into the Boston College Hall of Fame in 1982.
He is excited to lead the accomplished Nor'easters' athletics program.
"I look forward to assisting President Ripich, John Tumiel and the entire athletic staffs at the University of New England," McDonald commented. "UNE is a beautiful campus with outstanding leadership and excellent programs and facilities."
"I would also like to sincerely thank Quinnipiac President John Lahey, Mark Thompson and the Athletics and Recreation staff for 20 perfect years."
A 1973 graduate of Boston College, McDonald competed in, and coached, track. He was a four-time New England champion and set the New England indoor mile record (4:00.9) in 1976. McDonald went on to earn a master's degree from Springfield College in 1984 before returning to BC to earn Big East, New England and NCAA District I Coach of the Year Awards as a track and cross country coach.
McDonald, a native of Braintree, Mass., is the oldest of 11 children. He and his wife, Linda, have four adult sons – Brian, Jim, Jack and David.
