SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Longtime successful college administrator Bob De Carolis has been hired as deputy director of athletics with Santa Clara University.
De Carolis, who served as Oregon State director of athletics for 13 years, will oversee internal operations, which includes academics, the business office, compliance, sports medicine, sports performance and student-athlete services.
De Carolis spent 19 years in a variety of administrative roles at the University of Michigan before embarking on a 17-year stint with the Beavers that saw a number of enhancements during his time as AD, including upgraded facilities, record fundraising and improved budget oversight.
"We are thrilled to add an administrator of Bob's caliber to our management team," said director of athletics Renee Baumgartner, who is in her fourth year. "We have a long working relationship from our time on Pac-12 Conference and NCAA committees. He has expertise in a number of areas and great experience, which will help make us even better as we continue to move the needle."
He led a number of facilities improvements and fundraising achievements at the Oregon State, including:
• 'Raising Reser' campaign to expand the football stadium which generated $33 million
• Built 35,000-square-foot basketball practice facility
• Collaborated with University leadership to build a 30,000-square-foot academic center
• Increased strength and conditioning facility by 15,000 square feet
• Developed and executed a program to eliminate a $12.5 million deficit in five years
"I'm really excited for the opportunity to join a department that is trending upward," said De Carolis. "Everyone from Father (Michael) Engh to the trustees are in alignment for the vision and goals of the athletic department. I look forward to helping Renee and the rest of the staff continue to improve the student-athlete experience."
On the Santa Clara senior staff, De Carolis replaces Jeff Mitchell, who was hired last month by Southern Miss as the deputy director of athletics.
Staci Gustafson, entering her 12th year at Santa Clara, moves from her role of senior associate AD for internal operations to deputy director of athletics where she will oversee all external operations, in addition to maintaining supervision of facilities and operations.
"Staci has great experience. She has not only been a key member of our department for a number of years, but also a Division I volleyball player and NCAA championship assistant coach at Nebraska," said Baumgartner. "Bob's attributes complement Staci and rest of our administration."
De Carolis was a softball coach at Michigan from 1981-84 and remained at the school until 1998 when as the senior associate AD left to become associate athletics director at Oregon State. He was promoted to senior associate AD before ascending to director of athletics.
He remained at Oregon State until 2015 and spent two years as a senior advisor to the director of athletics at Michigan.
De Carolis begins his tenure at Santa Clara this week.
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