Rick Cole Position: Director of Athletics Institution: Dowling College

In just four years, Rick Cole Jr. has transformed the landscape of collegiate athletics at Dowling College. As part of the department's five-year strategic plan, he has secured the necessary funding to add women's soccer, women's lacrosse and men's cross country as NCAA sponsored varsity sports and elevated ten coaches to full-time status. In addition, Rick has conducted a gender equity review to ensure the departments compliance with Title IX, completed an NCAA institutional self-study, expanded the sports medicine department in both staffing and equipment, re-branded the marks and logos, re-designed the department website, secured an exclusive buying contract with an apparel company, established a corporate sponsorship program, and developed a plan for an annual campaign for athletics to raise the funds necessary to meet the unmet costs of the department.

Rick was also instrumental in the planning and development of the Brookhaven field initiative. The $12.5 million complex, which opened in the Spring of 2008, is the home of the Golden Lions soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball programs and is one of the premier athletic facilities in the northeast.

Cole also sits on various industry wide committees. Recently Cole was named to the NCAA Division II Management Council and serves on the Division II Athletic Directors Board of Directors. Hs is also the Vice President of the ECC Executive Board and Chairs the ECC Lacrosse Committee. Cole just completed a three-year stint as the chair of the NCAA National Lacrosse Committee.

Prior to joining Dowling, Cole served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs at St. John's University and Stony Brook University's Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and Advancement.

An accomplished volleyball coach, Rick has served as head coach of the AAU Long Island Power Volleyball Club, the University at Buffalo's Men's Volleyball Club Team, and the AAU Cheetah Volleyball Club of Western New York. He is the founder and Director of the Intensive Volleyball Training Camp, as well as Co-Director of the Island Volleyball Academy, which coaches girls, age 10-18, throughout Long Island.

Cole received his Bachelor's degree in 1992 and Master's in Education in 1994, both from the State University at Buffalo. He currently resides in Oakdale with his wife Brooke and three children Taylor (9), Mackenzie (8), and Trey (6).