Donna Sanft Position: Executive Associate Athletics Director Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Donna Sanft was promoted to the position of executive associate athletics director at the University of Pittsburgh in January of 2008.

Sanft holds one of the Pitt Athletic Department's most diverse and accomplished tenures. Her long association includes time as a student-athlete, head coach and, for the past two decades, administrator.

Sanft most recently served as Pitt's senior associate athletic director for administration, student life and compliance. She was named interim athletic director by Chancellor Mark Nordenberg during the fall 2007 and has been an integral figure in the many operations of Pitt athletics.

In her new capacity Sanft will work directly with Pitt AD Steve Pederson on all administrative aspects of the department.

Sanft has been significantly involved in the department's strategic planning and the professional development of its staff. She additionally has been responsible for coordinating Pitt's compliance and NCAA rules education programs and overseeing the Panther Game Plan, a student-athlete life skills program. Last year, she was named a recipient of the Chancellor's Awards for Staff Excellence in service to the University.

While coaching the Panthers' gymnastics team for 12 years (1974-1986), Sanft compiled an 82-50-1 record and was twice selected the Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year. During her tenure, she helped produce Pitt's only NCAA champion in women's gymnastics, Lisa Shirk.

A 1974 graduate of Pitt with bachelor's and master's degrees in health and physical education, Sanft was a member and three-year captain of the gymnastics team. She was named Pitt's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1974. In 1999, Sanft was honored by the Pitt Varsity Letter Club as an "Awardee of Distinction," becoming the first female to receive the award.

Additionally, Sanft is a 2008 inductee into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame.

She and her husband Elliott have two adult daughters, Liza Barbour and Leah.