Press Release:
UCF vice president and director of athletics Terry Mohajir has completed construction of his management team with a handful of hires at the executive level. Mohajir officially presented his updated organizational structure recently to the UCF Athletic Association board.
Here are the new additions to the UCF Athletics management team:
--Rich Zvosec, senior deputy athletics director, internal operations
Zvosec came to Orlando after eight years at Arkansas State, most recently serving as deputy director of athletics. At UCF, Zvosec (pronounced zuh-VOH-sec) oversees the job placement program and the areas of sports performance, nutrition, sports science and ESPN production and video services. He also serves as sport administrator for the Knights' football, men's basketball, women's cross country and women's track and field programs. In addition to his role within the Red Wolves athletics department, Zvosec also worked as a college basketball analyst for ESPN, CBS and Fox Sports. His basketball head coaching resume included stops at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2001-07Mid Continent Coach of the Year), Millersville (Pennsylvania) University (1997-98), University of North Florida (1991-97) and St. Francis (New York) College (1988-91Northeast Conference Coach of the Year).
--Dr. Abigail Wilson, deputy athletics director, student-athlete services/SWA
Wilson oversees the areas of academic services for student-athletes, the Knights Leadership Academy, sports medicine, mental health, NIL (name, image and likeness), recruiting and housing. She serves as sport administrator for the Knights' women's soccer, softball and men's and women's tennis teams. Wilson came to UCF after spending the last seven years as Arkansas State senior associate athletics director for student services. She previously served as assistant director of athletics for academic services and SWA at UALR (Arkansas at Little Rock) beginning in 2014. Wilson was named UALR's at-risk academic advisor in 2011. She arrived at UALR in August 2006 and spent one year as an assistant coach for the Trojans' men's and women's tennis teams before being promoted to head women's tennis coach in 2007, serving as UALR's head coach until 2013. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Wilson was a four-year (2003-06) letter-winner in women's tennis at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is a 2006 graduate of Nebraska-Omaha and earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a double minor in psychology and sociology. She attained a Master of Science degree in sports management from UALR in 2007--then earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in education with a specialization in sport management and leadership at North Central University in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
--Adam Haukap, senior executive associate athletics director/chief revenue officer
Haukap oversees corporate sales and partnerships plus ticketing and premium sales and operations for the Knights after seven years at Arkansas State, first as associate athletics director and executive director of the Red Wolves Foundation and then in 2018 becoming senior associate athletics director. He oversaw various revenue generation areas at Arkansas State—including the annual fund, major gift fundraising, capital campaigns and ticket sales. Prior to joining the Red Wolves Athletics Department, Haukap served for seven years (2007-2014) at Oklahoma State as senior associate athletics director for sales and marketing. He worked as an account executive for Pacers Sports & Entertainment in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 2005-2007. Haukap served as a sports marketing intern at Miami (Ohio) University in 2005 and also worked for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Originally from Aviston, Illinois, Haukap earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history education from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in 2003 and his Master of Education degree in sports administration from Xavier in 2005.
--Terry Donovan, senior executive associate athletics director/chief financial officer
Donovan oversees the areas of business and finance, human resources, risk management and information technology for UCF Athletics. He had been the director of athletics at Stanislaus State (California) since May 2018. He previously served as Fresno State senior associate athletics director for business operations beginning in 2015—after holding senior leadership positions in athletics at Syracuse, Arizona State and his alma mater, the University of Nevada. Donovan is currently a member of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee. He was selected to the NCAA Resource Allocation Working Group national committee in 2011. He earned two degrees at Nevada, including his undergraduate degree in finance in 1997 and his MBA in 2003.
--Jimmy Skiles, senior executive associate athletics director, brand advancement
Skiles has been part of the Knights' external relations staff for 12 years over two separate stints. A 2006 UCF graduate, he began his most recent tenure at UCF in March 2014 as assistant athletics director for fan development. In February 2018 he was named associate athletics director for brand advancement with oversight of the #content, discovery and experiential innovation teams. In January 2022, Skiles was elevated to senior executive associate athletics director and added the communications department to his oversight responsibilities. He also oversees the UCF spirit program. Skiles returned to his alma mater after nearly four years with the Virginia Tech athletics department, serving as director of marketing and promotions from 2012-14 and assistant director of marketing and promotions from 2011-12. Prior to Virginia Tech, Skiles was the assistant director of marketing and promotions at UCF for three-and-half years. Skiles also served as an intern at the Conference USA office and a graduate assistant at the University of Florida. In addition to his UCF degree, Skiles earned a Master of Science degree in sports management from the University of Florida in 2007.
--Tim Allen, executive associate athletics director
Allen oversees the areas of athletics operations and equipment operations at UCF, in addition to serving as the sport administrator for the men's and women's golf programs. He came to Orlando after 12 seasons as director of football operations at Michigan State. He was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2015 and originally joined the Spartan staff in 2008. Allen previously spent 19 seasons on Glen Mason's football coaching staff at Kansas (1988-96) and Minnesota (1997-2006). He came to Michigan State following 10 years at Minnesota where he served as assistant athletics director for football operations. Before going to Minnesota, Allen worked 11 seasons at Kansas--beginning as a defensive graduate assistant football coach in 1986 and then being promoted to administrative assistant for football operations in 1987. He was retained when Mason became the Jayhawks' head coach in 1988. From 1993-96 he worked on the Jayhawk athletic staff alongside Mohajir. From 1982-85, Allen was an assistant football coach (wide receivers, 1982-83; defensive backs/special teams coordinator, 1984-85) and admissions counselor at his alma mater, Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. A native of Seneca, Kansas, Allen earned two letters as a wide receiver and was elected football team captain as a senior at Bethel. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education and recreation from Bethel in 1986.
--Ralph Shick, senior associate athletics director, compliance
Shick is responsible for all aspects of compliance with NCAA and conference rules for UCF Athletics. Previously senior director of athletics compliance at USC for three years, Shick assisted the associate vice president for athletics compliance with overseeing all aspects of the compliance office's day-to-day operation. He previously oversaw compliance initiatives for the USC football program for two and a half years, while also serving as the compliance contact for strength and conditioning, athletic medicine, drug testing, nutrition and equipment. Prior to his time at USC, Shick served as associate athletics director for sports and program services at South Florida. In that role, he served as a sport administrator for the men's basketball, men's soccer and softball programs, and was responsible for other administrative duties. He was originally hired at South Florida in August 2014 as assistant athletics director for compliance. Shick had earlier stops as director of athletic compliance at Florida State, assistant director of athletics compliance at USC and as a graduate assistant for athletics compliance at Northern Illinois. Shick graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in sport administration. He earned a master's degree in sport management from Northern Illinois.
--Jordan Clark, chief legal counsel
Clark joined the UCF staff in 2003 and now serves as chief legal counsel for the UCF Athletics Association, Inc., and associate general counsel for the University. His principal areas of responsibility with the Athletics Association include corporate governance, facilities and construction, debt finance projects and all general legal matters. Clark has been admitted to practice law in the state of Florida since 1999. During that time he has been recognized multiple times by Florida Trend Magazine as a member of Florida's Legal Elite. Prior to joining UCF, he practiced in the areas of mergers and acquisitions/corporate securities in Miami, Florida, with the law firms of Steel Hector and Davis LLP and Greenberg Traurig P.A. Clark received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting with honors from West Virginia University, where he was also a member of the men's soccer team. He received a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Florida, where he was an associate editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy.
Other incumbent members of the management team are:
--deputy athletics director, external relations and business development Chris McFarlane
--deputy athletics director, associate vice president/ChargeOn Fund Mark Wright
--senior executive associate athletics director, chief operating officer David Hansen
--senior associate athletics director, capital projects, facility and event management Brian Barton
--senior associate athletics director, strategic communications John Heisler
--associate athletics director, compliance Brittney Anderson-Duzan
--associate athletics director, academics Tara Helton
Additional senior-level administrative staff hires include:
--Carlos McCants, associate athletics director, ChargeOn Fund and Varsity Knights
McCants came to UCF after spending the previous six years at Arkansas State working in multiple roles, including director of development and lettermen relations for nearly three years before being elevated to assistant athletics director for development in 2018. He was a four-year football letterman and team captain who won three Sun Belt Conference championships at Arkansas State.
--Nick Smith, associate athletics director, ChargeOn Fund and major gifts
Smith most recently spent five years at Miami (Ohio) University working in multiple roles, including assistant director for major gifts for two years before being elevated to assistant athletics director for major gifts in 2018.
--Major Howe, associate athletics director, production
Howe boasts 25 years of broadcast and live event experience on his resume. While most of his recent broadcast career has been working within the collegiate sports realm, he also has been involved with NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, PGA, LPGA, Kentucky Derby and Olympics events.
Most recently, Howe was a remote director with ESPN.
--Elizabeth Hartsock, associate athletics director, business and finance
Hartsock brings to UCF 10 years of experience (2010-2020) as assistant athletic director for business and financial operations at Florida State. She most recently spent a little more than a year as Florida State's associate director of budget and financial service in the University's Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
--Claire Betz-Haukap, assistant athletics director, executive operations
Betz-Haukap previously spent over 8 years in the Arkansas State athletics department working in multiple roles, including the assistant director of donor relations for 4 years before being promoted to the assistant athletics director of administration in 2017.
--Aly Derksen, coordinator, executive operations and Varsity Knights
Derksen joined the UCF athletics department as a graduate assistant in 2019 and was given the title of coordinator, executive operations and Varsity Knights in the spring of 2021. In her current role she assists with executive operations, the Varsity Knights letter winner program.
Other recent promotions include Brooke Smoley to senior associate athletics director, strategy, analytics and ticket sales; Chris Huff to senior associate athletics director, ChargeOn Fund/annual giving and Knights Hospitality; Mary Vander Heiden to associate athletics director, sports medicine; Daniel Forcella to associate athletics director, strategic communications; Eric DeSalvo to associate athletics director, #content; Alex Cesarano to associate athletics director, brand experience, and SJ Tuohy to associate athletics director, football/chief of staff.
ucfknights.com
UCF vice president and director of athletics Terry Mohajir has completed construction of his management team with a handful of hires at the executive level. Mohajir officially presented his updated organizational structure recently to the UCF Athletic Association board.
Here are the new additions to the UCF Athletics management team:
--Rich Zvosec, senior deputy athletics director, internal operations
Zvosec came to Orlando after eight years at Arkansas State, most recently serving as deputy director of athletics. At UCF, Zvosec (pronounced zuh-VOH-sec) oversees the job placement program and the areas of sports performance, nutrition, sports science and ESPN production and video services. He also serves as sport administrator for the Knights' football, men's basketball, women's cross country and women's track and field programs. In addition to his role within the Red Wolves athletics department, Zvosec also worked as a college basketball analyst for ESPN, CBS and Fox Sports. His basketball head coaching resume included stops at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2001-07Mid Continent Coach of the Year), Millersville (Pennsylvania) University (1997-98), University of North Florida (1991-97) and St. Francis (New York) College (1988-91Northeast Conference Coach of the Year).
--Dr. Abigail Wilson, deputy athletics director, student-athlete services/SWA
Wilson oversees the areas of academic services for student-athletes, the Knights Leadership Academy, sports medicine, mental health, NIL (name, image and likeness), recruiting and housing. She serves as sport administrator for the Knights' women's soccer, softball and men's and women's tennis teams. Wilson came to UCF after spending the last seven years as Arkansas State senior associate athletics director for student services. She previously served as assistant director of athletics for academic services and SWA at UALR (Arkansas at Little Rock) beginning in 2014. Wilson was named UALR's at-risk academic advisor in 2011. She arrived at UALR in August 2006 and spent one year as an assistant coach for the Trojans' men's and women's tennis teams before being promoted to head women's tennis coach in 2007, serving as UALR's head coach until 2013. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Wilson was a four-year (2003-06) letter-winner in women's tennis at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is a 2006 graduate of Nebraska-Omaha and earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a double minor in psychology and sociology. She attained a Master of Science degree in sports management from UALR in 2007--then earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in education with a specialization in sport management and leadership at North Central University in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
--Adam Haukap, senior executive associate athletics director/chief revenue officer
Haukap oversees corporate sales and partnerships plus ticketing and premium sales and operations for the Knights after seven years at Arkansas State, first as associate athletics director and executive director of the Red Wolves Foundation and then in 2018 becoming senior associate athletics director. He oversaw various revenue generation areas at Arkansas State—including the annual fund, major gift fundraising, capital campaigns and ticket sales. Prior to joining the Red Wolves Athletics Department, Haukap served for seven years (2007-2014) at Oklahoma State as senior associate athletics director for sales and marketing. He worked as an account executive for Pacers Sports & Entertainment in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 2005-2007. Haukap served as a sports marketing intern at Miami (Ohio) University in 2005 and also worked for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Originally from Aviston, Illinois, Haukap earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history education from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in 2003 and his Master of Education degree in sports administration from Xavier in 2005.
--Terry Donovan, senior executive associate athletics director/chief financial officer
Donovan oversees the areas of business and finance, human resources, risk management and information technology for UCF Athletics. He had been the director of athletics at Stanislaus State (California) since May 2018. He previously served as Fresno State senior associate athletics director for business operations beginning in 2015—after holding senior leadership positions in athletics at Syracuse, Arizona State and his alma mater, the University of Nevada. Donovan is currently a member of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee. He was selected to the NCAA Resource Allocation Working Group national committee in 2011. He earned two degrees at Nevada, including his undergraduate degree in finance in 1997 and his MBA in 2003.
--Jimmy Skiles, senior executive associate athletics director, brand advancement
Skiles has been part of the Knights' external relations staff for 12 years over two separate stints. A 2006 UCF graduate, he began his most recent tenure at UCF in March 2014 as assistant athletics director for fan development. In February 2018 he was named associate athletics director for brand advancement with oversight of the #content, discovery and experiential innovation teams. In January 2022, Skiles was elevated to senior executive associate athletics director and added the communications department to his oversight responsibilities. He also oversees the UCF spirit program. Skiles returned to his alma mater after nearly four years with the Virginia Tech athletics department, serving as director of marketing and promotions from 2012-14 and assistant director of marketing and promotions from 2011-12. Prior to Virginia Tech, Skiles was the assistant director of marketing and promotions at UCF for three-and-half years. Skiles also served as an intern at the Conference USA office and a graduate assistant at the University of Florida. In addition to his UCF degree, Skiles earned a Master of Science degree in sports management from the University of Florida in 2007.
--Tim Allen, executive associate athletics director
Allen oversees the areas of athletics operations and equipment operations at UCF, in addition to serving as the sport administrator for the men's and women's golf programs. He came to Orlando after 12 seasons as director of football operations at Michigan State. He was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2015 and originally joined the Spartan staff in 2008. Allen previously spent 19 seasons on Glen Mason's football coaching staff at Kansas (1988-96) and Minnesota (1997-2006). He came to Michigan State following 10 years at Minnesota where he served as assistant athletics director for football operations. Before going to Minnesota, Allen worked 11 seasons at Kansas--beginning as a defensive graduate assistant football coach in 1986 and then being promoted to administrative assistant for football operations in 1987. He was retained when Mason became the Jayhawks' head coach in 1988. From 1993-96 he worked on the Jayhawk athletic staff alongside Mohajir. From 1982-85, Allen was an assistant football coach (wide receivers, 1982-83; defensive backs/special teams coordinator, 1984-85) and admissions counselor at his alma mater, Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. A native of Seneca, Kansas, Allen earned two letters as a wide receiver and was elected football team captain as a senior at Bethel. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education and recreation from Bethel in 1986.
--Ralph Shick, senior associate athletics director, compliance
Shick is responsible for all aspects of compliance with NCAA and conference rules for UCF Athletics. Previously senior director of athletics compliance at USC for three years, Shick assisted the associate vice president for athletics compliance with overseeing all aspects of the compliance office's day-to-day operation. He previously oversaw compliance initiatives for the USC football program for two and a half years, while also serving as the compliance contact for strength and conditioning, athletic medicine, drug testing, nutrition and equipment. Prior to his time at USC, Shick served as associate athletics director for sports and program services at South Florida. In that role, he served as a sport administrator for the men's basketball, men's soccer and softball programs, and was responsible for other administrative duties. He was originally hired at South Florida in August 2014 as assistant athletics director for compliance. Shick had earlier stops as director of athletic compliance at Florida State, assistant director of athletics compliance at USC and as a graduate assistant for athletics compliance at Northern Illinois. Shick graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in sport administration. He earned a master's degree in sport management from Northern Illinois.
--Jordan Clark, chief legal counsel
Clark joined the UCF staff in 2003 and now serves as chief legal counsel for the UCF Athletics Association, Inc., and associate general counsel for the University. His principal areas of responsibility with the Athletics Association include corporate governance, facilities and construction, debt finance projects and all general legal matters. Clark has been admitted to practice law in the state of Florida since 1999. During that time he has been recognized multiple times by Florida Trend Magazine as a member of Florida's Legal Elite. Prior to joining UCF, he practiced in the areas of mergers and acquisitions/corporate securities in Miami, Florida, with the law firms of Steel Hector and Davis LLP and Greenberg Traurig P.A. Clark received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting with honors from West Virginia University, where he was also a member of the men's soccer team. He received a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Florida, where he was an associate editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy.
Other incumbent members of the management team are:
--deputy athletics director, external relations and business development Chris McFarlane
--deputy athletics director, associate vice president/ChargeOn Fund Mark Wright
--senior executive associate athletics director, chief operating officer David Hansen
--senior associate athletics director, capital projects, facility and event management Brian Barton
--senior associate athletics director, strategic communications John Heisler
--associate athletics director, compliance Brittney Anderson-Duzan
--associate athletics director, academics Tara Helton
Additional senior-level administrative staff hires include:
--Carlos McCants, associate athletics director, ChargeOn Fund and Varsity Knights
McCants came to UCF after spending the previous six years at Arkansas State working in multiple roles, including director of development and lettermen relations for nearly three years before being elevated to assistant athletics director for development in 2018. He was a four-year football letterman and team captain who won three Sun Belt Conference championships at Arkansas State.
--Nick Smith, associate athletics director, ChargeOn Fund and major gifts
Smith most recently spent five years at Miami (Ohio) University working in multiple roles, including assistant director for major gifts for two years before being elevated to assistant athletics director for major gifts in 2018.
--Major Howe, associate athletics director, production
Howe boasts 25 years of broadcast and live event experience on his resume. While most of his recent broadcast career has been working within the collegiate sports realm, he also has been involved with NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, PGA, LPGA, Kentucky Derby and Olympics events.
Most recently, Howe was a remote director with ESPN.
--Elizabeth Hartsock, associate athletics director, business and finance
Hartsock brings to UCF 10 years of experience (2010-2020) as assistant athletic director for business and financial operations at Florida State. She most recently spent a little more than a year as Florida State's associate director of budget and financial service in the University's Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
--Claire Betz-Haukap, assistant athletics director, executive operations
Betz-Haukap previously spent over 8 years in the Arkansas State athletics department working in multiple roles, including the assistant director of donor relations for 4 years before being promoted to the assistant athletics director of administration in 2017.
--Aly Derksen, coordinator, executive operations and Varsity Knights
Derksen joined the UCF athletics department as a graduate assistant in 2019 and was given the title of coordinator, executive operations and Varsity Knights in the spring of 2021. In her current role she assists with executive operations, the Varsity Knights letter winner program.
Other recent promotions include Brooke Smoley to senior associate athletics director, strategy, analytics and ticket sales; Chris Huff to senior associate athletics director, ChargeOn Fund/annual giving and Knights Hospitality; Mary Vander Heiden to associate athletics director, sports medicine; Daniel Forcella to associate athletics director, strategic communications; Eric DeSalvo to associate athletics director, #content; Alex Cesarano to associate athletics director, brand experience, and SJ Tuohy to associate athletics director, football/chief of staff.
Mohajir Announces New Personnel and Revamped Management Team for UCF Athletics - UCF Athletics
UCF vice president and director of athletics Terry Mohajir has completed construction of his management team with a handful of hires at the executive level. Mohajir
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