Jerry Fisk

Special to the OBSERVER

Gerald R. “Jerry” Fisk will become the new Director of Athletics at the State University of New York at Fredonia, effective Dec. 13.

His appointment, the result of a national search which began over the summer, was announced Friday by Fredonia Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services Cedric Howard.

“Jerry Fisk,” Dr. Howard said, “is an outstanding leader who brings a wealth of relevant experience and knowledge of (NCAA) Division III athletics. Jerry shares Fredonia’s commitment to supporting student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrative staff, and fielding teams who are able to compete in the classroom and on the playing field.”

Fisk will leave Elmira College, where he has been serving as assistant director of athletics and event and facility operations, to accept the new post.

“I would like to thank Dr. Howard and the search committee,” Mr. Fisk said, “for their work and, ultimately, the invitation to join the team at Fredonia. I am excited to work alongside many of the great people that I met during my time on campus. I know that we, the coaches, student-athletes, faculty and staff, can accomplish great things and I look forward to the future of Blue Devil Athletics.”

See FISK, Page B2

Fisk is the recipient of two academic degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester and a Master of Arts in Sport Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has worked in college athletics as an administrator, a coach and a development associate. He twice has served as a director of a student-athlete advisory committee, and has worked in intramurals.

While at UNC, he was a teaching assistant and athletic department intern, a member of the intramural sports advisory council, and director of development and member relations for the College Sport Research Institute. He then became the director of marketing and operations for the Southern States Athletic Conference, an NAIA conference with headquarters in Atlanta, Ga.; the associate director of athletics at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio; and the assistant golf coach and associate director for affinity engagement at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva. He has served as an executive board member of the New York State Section V boys’ basketball tournament committee since 1996.

“I fully believe,” he wrote during the search process, “that the single best way to empower and encourage today’s youth is to utilize athletics, or another primary interest, and leverage it as a co-curricular activity to help them better themselves, improve their lives, and become better informed citizens who can impact the world.”

In addition to his work in athletics, Mr. Fisk was a financial advisor for Chase Investment Services Inc. in Rochester, as well as controller/operations manager for Channel Islands Technology Integrators Group in Santa Barbara, Calif. He also worked for the Greater Cleveland (Ohio) Sports Commission as the sponsorship manager for the 2013 National Senior Games.

Fisk succeeds Gregory Prechtl, who retired last June after a 44-year career as a Fredonia staff member, coach and administrator. Mr. Prechtl will continue to serve as Director of Athletics Emeritus.

“I think it speaks volumes,” Fisk wrote, “that Mr. Prechtl enjoyed such a long career at Fredonia and didn’t move on to other institutions…I covet not only the opportunity to humbly serve at Fredonia, but to positively model and contribute to the success of the athletic department and Blue Devil student-athletes.”