The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has named its finalists to be invited for on-campus interviews for the director of athletics position, according to the search and screen committee. The five candidates are
Pat Bloom, baseball head coach at UW-Stevens Point;
Daron Montgomery, senior associate athletics director at University of Detroit Mercy;
Tony Romano, interim director of development for the College of Professional Studies at UWSP;
Tracy Dill, associate athletic director at St. Cloud State University; and
Charles Gross, associate athletic director at UW-Milwaukee.
Community Open Forum Dates/Times
Pat Bloom - Tuesday, May 10 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
Daron Montgomery - Thursday, May 12 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
Tony Romano - Friday, May 13 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
Charles Gross - Thursday, May 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
Tracy Dill - Friday, May 20 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
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Bloom has served as baseball head coach and lecturer the UWSP School of Health, Exercise Science & Athletics since 2003. The team's accomplishments under Bloom include three Division III World Series appearances in five years, six consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament appearances, and five straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Tournament titles. Bloom, a 2001 UWSP graduate and two-year letterwinner for the Pointers, was named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2010 and the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association College Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007.
Bloom has also been a member of the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee, UWSP Facilities/Long-range Planning Committee, and assisted on fundraising activities for the department.
The community is invited to an informal open forum with Bloom on Tuesday, May 10 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
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Montgomery serves as the lead development officer for UDM athletics and oversees fundraising, corporate sponsorship, and the department's marketing and promotional initiatives. He also oversees numerous other key areas for the Detroit program including ticket operations/sales, group sales, and game management/event operations for all home athletic contests.
As tournament manager for both the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Midwest Regional and 2009 Final Four® at Ford Field, Montgomery was responsible for working with NCAA Men's Basketball Committee and NCAA staff members in multiple key areas, with an emphasis on game management and specific responsibilities for supervising a game management crew of more than 60 members.
The community is invited to an informal open forum with Montgomery on Thursday, May 12 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
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Romano has overseen the UWSP athletics fundraising efforts since 2007 and completed the first two privately funded Athletics Traditions renovation campaigns – Pointer Basketball and Bennett Court Campaign and John E. Roberts Wrestling Facility.
Romano, who serves on the university's Strategic Planning Committee, secured the three largest advertising sponsorships in the university's history and created the first strategic development plan for UWSP athletics, which increased total giving and annual sponsorships. A 2005 UWSP graduate, Romano was a four-year letterwinner in football for the Pointers.
The community is invited to an informal open forum with Romano on Friday, May 13 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
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At UW-Milwaukee, Gross functions as the athletic department's chief financial officer, directing a $10 million operating budget, as well as the director of personnel, supervisor for ticket and events, marketing, corporate sponsorships, facilities, and athletic camps. In addition, he is also the sport administrator for Panthers men's basketball, baseball, and women's soccer.
Gross came to UWM from the Mequon-Thiensville School District/Homestead High School where he served as director of athletics and recreation for seven years. He also worked as an assistant activities director at Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School after starting his professional career as a college coach, including eight seasons as the head men's basketball coach at UW-La Crosse.
The community is invited to an informal open forum with Gross on Thursday, May 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.
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Dill is responsible for external operations of the St. Cloud State athletic department, including sponsorships, marketing, game-day implementation, radio and TV broadcast rights, pouring rights for sports facilities, season ticket sales, and game management.
Dill has been instrumental in creating added visibility and broadening the SCSU branding program for intercollegiate athletics. Prior to his appointment as associate athletic director in September 1999, Dill coached football and men's and women's track and field at SCSU, which included 37 All-Americans and two NCAA Division II national champions.
The community is invited to an informal open forum with Dill on Friday, May 20 from 10-11 a.m. in the Dreyfus University Center, Room 374.