Chicago State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics,
Elliott Charles has announced several changes to his administrative staff. Current Executive Sr. Associate AD for External Operations and Revenue Generation,
Jessica Poole, will move into a Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer role and
Sam Brief will move into a Director of Creative Content and Broadcasting role.
In her new role, Poole will provide leadership, vision, strategy, direction and management over professional and support staff with oversight of business operations, human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), facilities, events, campus engagement, and capital engagement. Poole will also lead in the oversight and management of policy development and strategic planning.
"Jessica Poole has been an integral leader for Chicago State University. Her impact on our sport programs and staff development are notable. This new role is reflective of the commitment and talents that she has brought to the University over the past two years. Deputy AD Poole is a nationally recognized leader who brings teamwork and a genuinely altruistic approach daily."
"I'm very thankful and grateful to Elliott Charles and President Scott for this new opportunity," said Poole. "I'm very proud of all of the things our student-athletes, coaches and staff have accomplished and I look forward to continuing to growing Chicago State Athletics and #OurChampionshipEra in this new role."
Sam Brief, "The Voice of the Cougars" will move into a Director of Creative Content role where he will continue to serve as the departmental broadcast lead and will expand Chicago State athletics digital and multimedia content with new original content.
Wil DiSabitino and
Matthew Arriaga have been named as Directors of Internal Operations. Reporting to Deputy AD Poole, DiSabitino and Arriaga will have primary duties in Business Operations, Equipment, Events and Facilities.
About Chicago State
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. In 1991, the Chicago State women's tennis team became the first all-black college team to amass an unbeaten season at the NCAA level.CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title, also making an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. Chicago State volleyball recorded a historic season in 2021, with Yanlis Feliz becoming CSU's first volleyball All-American and head coach
Tony Trifonov earning selection as WAC Coach of the Year. During the 2021-22 season CSU basketball players Aaliyah Collins and Brandon Betson were named to the WAC All-Newcomer Team and earned second team All-WAC honors
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