Acorn

Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Victoria Webbe Connee Zotos, in front of Drew's trophies, will be moving on to teach class at NYU.

Connee Zotos is changing hats. Drew University's director of athletics-whose accomplishments include instituting the sports equity model and creating the Landmark Conference-will leave Drew to take on a familiar role.

"I would like to finish my career in the classroom," she said.

Zotos, who has been the chair of Drew's athletic department since 1994, is stepping down from her position as of Aug. 4 to pursue a career in teaching at New York University. The new position will allow her more time to attend to her ailing mother, she said.

While Zotos is sad to leave Drew, she is excited to be back in the classroom. After teaching a first-year seminar this fall about leadership, she became "re-energized about teaching".

"NYU has never had any courses geared toward collegiate athletics," Zotos explained. "They wanted to add faculty that would bring expertise. I'll help develop the whole program." With Bachelor's and Master's degrees in physical education, a Ph. D. in educational administration, service on several National Collegiate Athletic Association boards and committees, terms as the president of the College Athletic Administrators of New Jersey and chair of three Title IX committees, as well as 14 years as Drew's athletic director, Zotos has the expertise to bring to NYU.

"She is more than an athletic director," Interim Director of Recreation Andre Moore said. "She is a person who brought a wealth of experience to Drew." Moore also explained that Zotos is an accomplished author who has written books about gender equity in sports and evaluative standards for coaching.

Zotos' most recent accomplishment at Drew has been bringing the University into the newly formed Landmark Conference-a project for which she was a "prime mover," Men's Lacrosse Coach Thomas Leanos said.

According to Leanos, Zotos also made an impact in the athletic department through her encouragement of the equity model-in which all sports are treated equally-and the institution of single sport coaches. The latter of the two has enhanced Drew's ability to recruit, Leanos said.

Continued...

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