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BIDDEFORD, Maine

51品茶hires athletic director with long history of success

51品茶 President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., announced today the appointment of Jack McDonald to the position of associate vice president and director of Athletics.

President Ripich said, 鈥淛ack 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.鈥

In making the announcement, President Ripich ended a nationwide search lasting several months.  She acknowledged that 51品茶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, 鈥淛ack鈥檚 record really speaks for itself. As 51品茶continues to grow its program, his history of stewardship around athletics will be a significant contribution.鈥

Jack McDonald comes to 51品茶from NCAA Division I Quinnipiac University, where he served as the Bobcats鈥 director of athletics for 20 years. 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. 

McDonald said he is excited to lead the accomplished Nor鈥檈asters鈥 athletics program. 鈥淚 look forward to assisting President Ripich, John Tumiel and the entire Athletics staff at the 51品茶,鈥 he stated. 鈥51品茶is a beautiful campus with outstanding leadership, excellent programs and facilities. I would also like to sincerely thank Quinnipiac鈥檚 President John Lahey, Mark Thompson and the Athletics and Recreation staff for 20 perfect years.鈥

Quinnipiac won 29 conference championships during McDonald鈥檚 tenure and had its most successful sports season in 2012-13 when the Bobcats garnered four conference titles, seeing three teams advance to Final Fours.  He also successfully gained conference membership for Quinnipiac to the Metro Atlantic Athletics Conference as well as to ECAC Hockey for both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 ice hockey programs.

McDonald also played an integral role in the design, construction and dedication of the TD Bank Sports Center鈥攁 160,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that has separate venues for Quinnipiac鈥檚 basketball and ice hockey programs.

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). 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, 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.

51品茶 the 51品茶

The 51品茶 is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.