SHU's New Athletics Director Is First Woman To Hold The Position

From Sacred Heart University:

FAIRFIELD, CT — Judy Ann Riccio has been named Sacred Heart University's interim director of athletics, effective Tuesday.

"We are fortunate to have Judy Ann, a highly qualified member of the SHU Athletics community, who is ready and excited to take on the responsibilities of interim athletic director," said Jim Barquinero, senior vice president for enrollment, student affairs and athletics. "It became apparent to myself and [President] Dr. [John] Petillo that Judy Ann's vision, skills and work ethic were benefitting the department in areas far beyond the traditional purview of the SWA."

The first woman athletics director in school history, Riccio is one of only 27 women athletic directors in the country. In addition to her interim duties, Riccio will continue her role as executive director of budgets for enrollment, student affairs and athletics. Previously she served as SHU's senior woman administrator.

Riccio joined Sacred Heart in 2004 as a financial analyst supporting the division of enrollment, student affairs and athletics. For the last eight years she has served as the athletic department's chief financial officer while also working in the areas of NCAA compliance, enrollment and roster management, Title IX compliance, academic success, graduation rates and human resources.

"I am honored to be named interim athletic director and grateful to Jim Barquinero and Dr. Petillo for putting their trust in me with this critical role," Riccio said. "This is a tremendous opportunity to lead and to serve our student-athletes in an athletics department that is having tremendous success on the court and in the classroom. Moving into a new era as SHU's first female athletic director, I am proud to be a Pioneer for everyone involved in our athletics program."

Within the athletics department, Riccio has served on the Title IX Committee and Pioneer Journey of Transformational Education Committee, as well as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group. She helped increase the fan experience at home SHU football games with the implementation of the Outpost hospitality area.

Riccio started her career as an auditor for Price Waterhouse, before embarking on a career in higher education. She worked in accounting at Hofstra University and served as an accounting manager at Fairfield University before starting at Sacred Heart. She is the sports administrator and helped lead SHU's cheerleading team to back-to-back national championships.

"Judy Ann brings to the athletic director position a wealth of institutional and industry experience as well as a commitment to the university's mission," Barquinero said. "She has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in every facet of the program, from policies and procedures to the fan experience, and I look forward to seeing Pioneer Athletics flourish under Judy Ann's leadership."

Since 2007, Sacred Heart has been the premier program in the Northeast Conference. The Pioneers have won the Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup eight times during that span, and finished lower than second only once. Sacred Heart annually has a department grade-point average above a 3.0 and performs thousands of hours of community service.

Riccio graduated from Fairfield in 1996 with a degree in accounting. She received her master's degree in business administration from Hofstra in 2000. A native of Seaford, New York, she resides in Trumbull with her husband, Frank, and their children, Ryan and Lauren.