DePaul University Athletics
Ponsetto Inducted into NACDA Hall of Fame
8/5/2021 2:34:00 PM | ATHLETICS
Athletics Directors Association honors pays tribute to a legendary leader
CHICAGO – Even in retirement, former DePaul athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto remains a vivid, radiant beacon lighting the way for those aspiring to follow in her path making college athletics a way of life.
The latest milestone paying tribute to Ponsetto's iconic 42-year career in Lincoln Park came last week when the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) bestowed its highest honor upon the lifelong Blue Demon inducting her into the NACDA Hall of Fame.
Along with Ponsetto, the other distinguished members of the 2021 Hall of Fame class includes Lynda Goodrich (Western Washington), Dan Guerrero (UCLA), Craig Littlepage (Virginia), Dave Roach (Fordham), Cathie Schweitzer (Springfield College) and Julie Soriero (MIT).
The honorees were formally recognized in conjunction with the 56th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention held virtually July 27-28.
Ponsetto will be the first to acknowledge that the numerous awards and accolades validating her long run of success including twice being named NACDA Athletic Director of the Year were a direct result of coaches and staff members devoting their lives training and developing young people into superb student athletes and compassionate human beings.
The one-time matriarch of DePaul Athletics who announced her retirement in June of 2020 after 45 years as a student athlete, coach and administrator is fond of saying the coaches and staff do all the heavy lifting while people give her the credit.
In truth, nobody worked longer hours or sacrificed more than Ponsetto whose unabashed passion in life was her Blue Demons.
She knew every single one of her student athletes by name and had a pretty good idea what made them tick. Like the grammar school teacher that always amazed you, "Jeanne" as she is known by all remembered the names and kept track of all her former Blue Demons.
"Our culture in Athletics centers on respecting the dignity of each person," Ponsetto has said. "We teach that to our student athletes and we all live it in our daily interactions with one another.
"Our student athletes have been a real source of pride for all of us at DePaul. I feel like I am the lucky one with our coaches letting me have a front-row seat to watch them teach and show our student athletes the way to wisdom."
During hospitalization for a serious medical condition a handful of years ago, a DePaul Athletics staff member was pleasantly surprised to receive a deeply appreciated phone call.
It was Ponsetto voicing her concern for a valued co-worker and friend. The uplifting conversation did wonders for the spirit and strengthened the resolve to overcome a difficult ordeal.
It was simply the way "Jeanne" ran her operation at the Sullivan Athletic Center in the heart of Lincoln Park. Another day, this family-first administrator would be sending flowers during a time of mourning or welcoming a staff member's wife and children into the AD suite.
Barring the need for private conversation, Ponsetto maintained a perpetual open-door policy. Stop in and share a little piece of your personal life, enjoy a few laughs and be sure to sample a bakery treat on the way out.
That was just Jeanne's way.
In some ways, she embodied a precious slice of Americana from a bygone era during a more simple time when folks could afford to let their guard down in a place where everybody knew your name. You could take up temporary refuge in her office suite, away from the stress and anxiety of a world that sometimes gets the better of us.
"I stand on the really broad shoulders of our staff and coaches, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with such exceptional colleagues," Ponsetto said in June of 2020 just before her retirement. "They have sacrificed time with their own families to become servant leaders for our student athletes and set them on a course of professional success while rising up as leaders of their generation."
Here's a quick snapshot of Ponsetto's tenure as athletics director:
57 Conference Championships
154 Individual Sport Conference Champions
87 NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards
28 Conference Coaches/Coaching Staff of the Year Awards
34 Academic All Americans
Completion of seven facilities projects after meeting or exceeding fundraising goals
More $300 million in athletics revenues generated while reducing the university's subsidy to Athletics by 50 percent during her regime
This was her fourth lifetime honor following inductions into the DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame.
"I'm overwhelmed with gratitude by the generosity of my NACDA colleagues and the NACDA Hall of Fame Committee for welcoming me into the Hall of Fame," Ponsetto said. "I have been acknowledged for my leadership over the years, and I'm super flattered to receive all the awards and accolades from places like NACDA, Women's Leaders in College Sports, Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and others.
"Throughout my career, I have had the good fortune to be surrounded and influenced by amazing leaders, mentors and trailblazers at NACDA. There have also been all the women leaders, athletics directors and conference staff from the BIG EAST along with the other conferences DePaul held membership, the NCAA staff and a myriad of colleagues who became dear friends that I proudly served with on committees and affiliate organizations.
"All the credit for everything and anything that we accomplished at DePaul is rooted in the extraordinary commitment and hard work of countless student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff who used our platform to bring terrific distinction to DePaul University and share the humanity of our many stories of service, academics and athletics excellence, sportsmanship, winning with grace and losing with dignity."
Since the mid-1970s when Ponsetto was a four-sport Blue Demon standout, her life has revolved around the Vincentian university.
"Our Blue Demons past and present, along with our coaches and staff have been my everyday joy," Ponsetto said. "I'm very grateful to the Vincentian fathers and brothers, faculty and staff with whom I served the past 42 years at DePaul for their partnership, confidence in me and support of my leadership team.
"As well, the incredible number of benefactors for their belief in the athletics mission providing a transformational experience for our student athletes as they grew to become the socially responsible leaders of their generation.
"And lastly, I feel immense gratitude to my husband Joe and my family for their love, support, encouragement and for walking every day of this journey with me."
Following an illustrious 42-year career, Ponsetto retired as one of the nation's most widely respected leaders in intercollegiate athletics and a driving force behind the unprecedented expansion and development of DePaul's athletics program.
She began her athletics career as an assistant women's basketball coach and head softball coach after having been a four-sport athlete participating in basketball, tennis, softball and volleyball. Ponsetto transitioned into athletics administration in 1982, and after years of working through the ranks was promoted to director of athletics in 2002.
During her tenure, 14 of the 15 Blue Demon programs represented the school in 57 NCAA team championships as either conference champions or at-large selections along with 154 NCAA individual championships appearances – including 17-straight NCAA appearances by the women's basketball program and two trips to the Women's College World Series for the softball team.
Under her leadership, the Blue Demons garnered 87 NCAA APR Awards, 34 Academic All-Americans and led the BIG EAST in team Academic Excellence Awards and Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The Blue Demons' collective cumulative GPA annually was over 3.5.
She was responsible for fundraising and overseeing the design and development of nine athletics facilities projects including Wintrust Arena, the Sullivan Athletic Center, Wish Soccer Field, Cacciatore Softball Stadium, the John and Dale Melbourne Herklotz Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard, the Cherry Family Indoor Track, the outdoor track at Lane Stadium, the short game facility at Ruffled Feathers Golf Club and the indoor golf practice facility on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus.
Prior to her retirement, she collaborated with university leadership, trustees and donors to put in motion the design and renovation of the Sullivan Athletic Center for basketball and volleyball while securing the first major gift for the construction of a new fieldhouse for all sports.
In addition to fundraising for facilities and program support, athletics added 54 new scholarships for student athletes. As AD, Ponsetto and her leadership team regularly set revenue records while at the same time reducing the university's subsidy to athletics by 50 percent.
Ponsetto served the intercollegiate athletics community with a combined 62 years of service highlighted by leadership roles including vice chair of the NCAA Council and as Chairperson of the NCAA Championships Cabinet, the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee, the NCAA Women's Basketball Oversight Committee and Collegiate Women's Sports Awards (CWSA). She served as DI-AAA ADA President in 2009-10, as a NACDA Officer from 2017-20. She was set to take over as NACDA President prior to her retirement.
She has earned several awards for her outstanding work at DePaul and for her leadership serving the NCAA members and student athletes including two-time NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (2008-09 and 20015-16) and the DI-AAA ADA Builders' Award in 2018.
"Congratulations to Jeanne on her induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame," said DePaul Athletics Director DeWayne Peevy. "The expansion and growth DePaul Athletics saw during her 42-year tenure---the last 18 years as athletics director---is extraordinary.
"I admire Jeanne's tireless dedication to our industry, serving on numerous NCAA committees and working groups. I applaud her pioneering spirit that helped organize the new BIG EAST Conference and paved the way for women and other diverse candidates to follow in her footsteps, and her distinct dedication to a student athlete-first experience.
"I'm proud to see her honored for her immeasurable impact on intercollegiate athletics both at DePaul and nationally."
The latest milestone paying tribute to Ponsetto's iconic 42-year career in Lincoln Park came last week when the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) bestowed its highest honor upon the lifelong Blue Demon inducting her into the NACDA Hall of Fame.
Along with Ponsetto, the other distinguished members of the 2021 Hall of Fame class includes Lynda Goodrich (Western Washington), Dan Guerrero (UCLA), Craig Littlepage (Virginia), Dave Roach (Fordham), Cathie Schweitzer (Springfield College) and Julie Soriero (MIT).
The honorees were formally recognized in conjunction with the 56th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention held virtually July 27-28.
Ponsetto will be the first to acknowledge that the numerous awards and accolades validating her long run of success including twice being named NACDA Athletic Director of the Year were a direct result of coaches and staff members devoting their lives training and developing young people into superb student athletes and compassionate human beings.
The one-time matriarch of DePaul Athletics who announced her retirement in June of 2020 after 45 years as a student athlete, coach and administrator is fond of saying the coaches and staff do all the heavy lifting while people give her the credit.
In truth, nobody worked longer hours or sacrificed more than Ponsetto whose unabashed passion in life was her Blue Demons.
She knew every single one of her student athletes by name and had a pretty good idea what made them tick. Like the grammar school teacher that always amazed you, "Jeanne" as she is known by all remembered the names and kept track of all her former Blue Demons.
"Our culture in Athletics centers on respecting the dignity of each person," Ponsetto has said. "We teach that to our student athletes and we all live it in our daily interactions with one another.
"Our student athletes have been a real source of pride for all of us at DePaul. I feel like I am the lucky one with our coaches letting me have a front-row seat to watch them teach and show our student athletes the way to wisdom."
During hospitalization for a serious medical condition a handful of years ago, a DePaul Athletics staff member was pleasantly surprised to receive a deeply appreciated phone call.
It was Ponsetto voicing her concern for a valued co-worker and friend. The uplifting conversation did wonders for the spirit and strengthened the resolve to overcome a difficult ordeal.
It was simply the way "Jeanne" ran her operation at the Sullivan Athletic Center in the heart of Lincoln Park. Another day, this family-first administrator would be sending flowers during a time of mourning or welcoming a staff member's wife and children into the AD suite.
Barring the need for private conversation, Ponsetto maintained a perpetual open-door policy. Stop in and share a little piece of your personal life, enjoy a few laughs and be sure to sample a bakery treat on the way out.
That was just Jeanne's way.
In some ways, she embodied a precious slice of Americana from a bygone era during a more simple time when folks could afford to let their guard down in a place where everybody knew your name. You could take up temporary refuge in her office suite, away from the stress and anxiety of a world that sometimes gets the better of us.
"I stand on the really broad shoulders of our staff and coaches, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with such exceptional colleagues," Ponsetto said in June of 2020 just before her retirement. "They have sacrificed time with their own families to become servant leaders for our student athletes and set them on a course of professional success while rising up as leaders of their generation."
Here's a quick snapshot of Ponsetto's tenure as athletics director:
57 Conference Championships
154 Individual Sport Conference Champions
87 NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards
28 Conference Coaches/Coaching Staff of the Year Awards
34 Academic All Americans
Completion of seven facilities projects after meeting or exceeding fundraising goals
More $300 million in athletics revenues generated while reducing the university's subsidy to Athletics by 50 percent during her regime
This was her fourth lifetime honor following inductions into the DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame.
"I'm overwhelmed with gratitude by the generosity of my NACDA colleagues and the NACDA Hall of Fame Committee for welcoming me into the Hall of Fame," Ponsetto said. "I have been acknowledged for my leadership over the years, and I'm super flattered to receive all the awards and accolades from places like NACDA, Women's Leaders in College Sports, Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and others.
"Throughout my career, I have had the good fortune to be surrounded and influenced by amazing leaders, mentors and trailblazers at NACDA. There have also been all the women leaders, athletics directors and conference staff from the BIG EAST along with the other conferences DePaul held membership, the NCAA staff and a myriad of colleagues who became dear friends that I proudly served with on committees and affiliate organizations.
"All the credit for everything and anything that we accomplished at DePaul is rooted in the extraordinary commitment and hard work of countless student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff who used our platform to bring terrific distinction to DePaul University and share the humanity of our many stories of service, academics and athletics excellence, sportsmanship, winning with grace and losing with dignity."
Since the mid-1970s when Ponsetto was a four-sport Blue Demon standout, her life has revolved around the Vincentian university.
"Our Blue Demons past and present, along with our coaches and staff have been my everyday joy," Ponsetto said. "I'm very grateful to the Vincentian fathers and brothers, faculty and staff with whom I served the past 42 years at DePaul for their partnership, confidence in me and support of my leadership team.
"As well, the incredible number of benefactors for their belief in the athletics mission providing a transformational experience for our student athletes as they grew to become the socially responsible leaders of their generation.
"And lastly, I feel immense gratitude to my husband Joe and my family for their love, support, encouragement and for walking every day of this journey with me."
Following an illustrious 42-year career, Ponsetto retired as one of the nation's most widely respected leaders in intercollegiate athletics and a driving force behind the unprecedented expansion and development of DePaul's athletics program.
She began her athletics career as an assistant women's basketball coach and head softball coach after having been a four-sport athlete participating in basketball, tennis, softball and volleyball. Ponsetto transitioned into athletics administration in 1982, and after years of working through the ranks was promoted to director of athletics in 2002.
During her tenure, 14 of the 15 Blue Demon programs represented the school in 57 NCAA team championships as either conference champions or at-large selections along with 154 NCAA individual championships appearances – including 17-straight NCAA appearances by the women's basketball program and two trips to the Women's College World Series for the softball team.
Under her leadership, the Blue Demons garnered 87 NCAA APR Awards, 34 Academic All-Americans and led the BIG EAST in team Academic Excellence Awards and Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The Blue Demons' collective cumulative GPA annually was over 3.5.
She was responsible for fundraising and overseeing the design and development of nine athletics facilities projects including Wintrust Arena, the Sullivan Athletic Center, Wish Soccer Field, Cacciatore Softball Stadium, the John and Dale Melbourne Herklotz Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard, the Cherry Family Indoor Track, the outdoor track at Lane Stadium, the short game facility at Ruffled Feathers Golf Club and the indoor golf practice facility on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus.
Prior to her retirement, she collaborated with university leadership, trustees and donors to put in motion the design and renovation of the Sullivan Athletic Center for basketball and volleyball while securing the first major gift for the construction of a new fieldhouse for all sports.
In addition to fundraising for facilities and program support, athletics added 54 new scholarships for student athletes. As AD, Ponsetto and her leadership team regularly set revenue records while at the same time reducing the university's subsidy to athletics by 50 percent.
Ponsetto served the intercollegiate athletics community with a combined 62 years of service highlighted by leadership roles including vice chair of the NCAA Council and as Chairperson of the NCAA Championships Cabinet, the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee, the NCAA Women's Basketball Oversight Committee and Collegiate Women's Sports Awards (CWSA). She served as DI-AAA ADA President in 2009-10, as a NACDA Officer from 2017-20. She was set to take over as NACDA President prior to her retirement.
She has earned several awards for her outstanding work at DePaul and for her leadership serving the NCAA members and student athletes including two-time NACDA Athletics Director of the Year (2008-09 and 20015-16) and the DI-AAA ADA Builders' Award in 2018.
"Congratulations to Jeanne on her induction into the NACDA Hall of Fame," said DePaul Athletics Director DeWayne Peevy. "The expansion and growth DePaul Athletics saw during her 42-year tenure---the last 18 years as athletics director---is extraordinary.
"I admire Jeanne's tireless dedication to our industry, serving on numerous NCAA committees and working groups. I applaud her pioneering spirit that helped organize the new BIG EAST Conference and paved the way for women and other diverse candidates to follow in her footsteps, and her distinct dedication to a student athlete-first experience.
"I'm proud to see her honored for her immeasurable impact on intercollegiate athletics both at DePaul and nationally."
Blue Demon Room Podcast Episode 17: Rachel Wilhelm and Noreen Vlamakis, Rush Physical Therapy
Wednesday, March 19
Episode 11: DeWayne Peevy, Vice President/Director of Athletics
Wednesday, December 18
Blue Demon Breakdown - Oct. 16
Wednesday, October 16
LEGACY: Build Your Brand
Thursday, August 01