August 3, 2006

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University President Dr. Patricia P. Cormier announced on Thursday the resignation of Director of Athletics Rick Mazzuto to become Director of Athletics at California State University, Northridge. Mazzuto has been with Longwood since March 1, 2002. President Cormier indicated that the school would conduct a national search for a new Director of Athletics to oversee the 14-sport intercollegiate athletics program. Longwood will be competing in the final year of its four-year NCAA Division I Reclassification during 2006-07.

Prior to his tenure at Longwood, Mazzuto previously was the Director of Athletics at Division I Saint Mary’s (Calif.) College from 1989-2000 after serving as Director of Athletics at Division I Iona (N.Y.) College from 1980-89.

At Longwood, Mazzuto has led the transition to Division I while spearheading the institution’s Strategic Plan for intercollegiate athletics. He has guided the program through many changes since his arrival, including increases in operating budgets, scholarships, and department personnel -- both administrative and coaching while also overseeing distinct scheduling, fundraising, and marketing changes. Additionally, Mazzuto has been instrumental in developing a comprehensive master plan at the University for new athletics facilities and the complete renovation of some existing facilities.

While at Saint Mary’s in Moraga, California for 11 years, Mazzuto oversaw a $5-million budget, 16-sport intercollegiate athletics program with 60-plus employees. During his time there, Saint Mary’s participated in the 1999 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament, the 1997 Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, and the 1992 Division I Women’s Soccer Tournament. The 2000 women’s basketball team participated in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) as well, while the women’s cross country team won the 1990 West Coast Conference Championship, and the softball team won three Western Intercollegiate Softball League titles.

At Iona in New Rochelle, New York for nine years, Mazzuto managed a 20-sport Division I program with 40-plus employees. While there, Iona participated in two NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournaments, and made two NIT appearances. The school won five conference championships in men’s cross country, three in men’s basketball, two each in baseball and softball, and one in men’s ice hockey. Additionally, the men’s cross country and water polo programs were nationally-ranked annually. Mazzuto worked at Iona from 1977-80 as the institution’s associate AD.

Mazzuto has served on numerous committees during his career, including the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee from 1991-97. He has also served as an instructor at both California-Berkeley’s extension program and at Iona. Mazzuto has extensive community service activities, serving on the Board of Directors of both the Moraga, Calif. and New Rochelle, N.Y. Rotary Clubs. He is a past president of the Moraga, Calif. Rotary Club, and is a current member of the Farmville Rotary.

Mazzuto earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from Trinity (Conn.) College where he began his career in intercollegiate athletics as the school’s sports information director for two years. He also served as SID at Lafayette (Pa.) College for four years, and was the publicity director for the East Coast Conference (ECC) for two years.

Mazzuto is married to the former Janet Johnstone.