USD Football 2004

Dr. Jo-Ann Nester, Director ofAthletics

55 DR. JO-ANN NESTER Director of Athletics Dr. Jo-Ann Nester enters her second year as the Director of Athletics at the University ofSan Diego. Priorto being promoted to theDirector position,Nester, served as Associate DirectorofAthletics and SeniorWoman Administrator here at USD. Dr. Nester oversees the operations ofthe Torero athletic department that includes 16NCAA Division I intercollegiateprograms. In her role as DirectorofAthletics, Nester has direct supervisory responsibility for the operations ofthe varsity sports programs. Additionally, she has direct supervisory respon– sibility forthe areas ofCompliance, Academic Support, Athletic Training, faci lities and scholarship allocations. Nester also serves as the SeniorWoman AdministratorLiaison to the WestCoastConferenceandNCAA.

"Serving as theDirectorof Athletics at the University ofSan Diego is an exciting

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challenge," said Nester. "To be an Athletic Director ata NCAA Di vision I, academicall y rigorous institution was acareergoal thatI had setformyselfearly in my career. lam very pleased that this goal has been reached here at this outstanding university. I thoroughly enjoy working together with ouroutstandingcoaches, staff and student athletes. Nester is committed to maintaining theUniversity andAthJeticDepartrnentcommitrnentto providing an outstanding and successful NCAADivisionlathleticprogramwithintherigorousacademicenvironmentthatistheUniversityofSanDiego.Duringthe2003-04season, fo urTorero teams went to the NCAA championship events. Academically, 15 student-athletes were named toWest Coast Conference All– Academic teams, 12football playerswere named to thePioneerFootball LeagueAH-Academic team and Kellen Hirota, from men's soccer, was honored as a2ndTeam Verizon AcademicAJJ American. TiffanieMarley became thefirstTorerowomen' scrosscountry athlete to win theWest CoastConferenceChampionship,and KelseyWatters (women's rowing) and Eric Rasmussen (football) were named male and female Torero Athletes ofthe Year. In addition, men ' s soccer standout, Kellen Hiroto, was the recipient ofthe inaugural WCC Post Graduate Scholarship.

Continuing this tradition ofexcellence in the classroom and competitive arenawhile providing an excel lent athletic experienceforour student-athletes wil I continue to be the priority duringNester's tenure as theUSDDirectorofAthletics. NestercametoUSDfromDartrnouthCollegewheresheheldtheposition of AssociateDirectorofAthletics for nine years. Her duties included oversight of compliance, student services, promotions and marketing, and numerous sports programs. Priorto her appointrnentatDartmouth College,she was theDirectorof thletics and Recreation atSaintMary' sCollege in NotreDame,lndiana between 1984-93. ln addition, she has a coaching background at the high schooland college levels, and has served on several committees within the NCAA, ECAC and Ivy League. Jo-Ann 'seducational background includes aB.S. degree in Health and Physical Education fromWest Chester StateCollege; aMasterofScience degree fromWestChester; an Ed.DDoctorofEducation fromTempleUniversity; and she completed the Sports Management Institute in the Executive Program at the UniversityofNotreDame.

USD Athletics Mission Statement

The USD athletic department strives to provide unique opportunities for all student-athletes to achieve both aca– demic and athletic excellence. We are committed to the principles of student-athlete welfare, student de– velopment, gender equity, and diver– sity. This commitment fosters a family environment where spirituality, char– acter development, integrity, and sportsmanship are integral to our win– ning tradition. This Torero spirit unites the campus and local community, enhancing the image of the University of San Diego.