MCLA Reassigns Athletic Department Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The MCLA Athletics department will begin the 2015-16 academic year using current staff members in new roles and the addition of two assistant coaches for the cross country and women’s lacrosse programs under a reorganization announced Wednesday by Director of Athletics, Laura Mooney.
Dot Houston and Jeff Puleri, members of the administrative team, will have new titles and duties within the department, while Monica Conlin and Leah Sullivan join the department as assistant coaches of the cross country and Lacrosse programs respectively.
“I am confident that realigning the senior leadership team and adjusting the reporting structure will allow the department to function more effectively," Mooney said. "I am pleased that we have been able to secure two quality assistants in order to better serve our student-athletes within their respective programs.”
The reorganization plan involves many new roles for the existing administrative team. Houston, who has served previously as the assistant athletics director, has been promoted to the associate athletics director for administration and compliance.
She will continue to serve as the senior woman administrator within the department. Houston’s new role includes oversight of the men’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s golf programs. She will also serve as the direct report for sports medicine and will manage facility scheduling and rentals.
Houston’s prior duties included serving as the compliance coordinator for the department. She also was the department liaison for the student athlete advisory committee and was responsible for all home game management. Houston has been a member of the administrative team since 2000.
Puleri, who previously served as an assistant athletics director, sports information director and head baseball coach, will now assume the title of assistant athletics director for development and communications. He will relinquish coaching duties effective immediately and take on a larger role within athletic development and communications.
As part of the communications role, Puleri will now be responsible for home game management and continue to lead the department in athletic communications and marketing. He will serve as the direct report for the athletic communications assistant and will continue to grow the visibility and branding of MCLA Athletics.
In addition, Puleri will be responsible for all fund raising initiatives within Athletics.
Puleri served as the baseball coach since the 2003 season and was a two time MASCAC coach of the year in that role.
“The department would like to recognize and thank Coach Puleri for the positive impact he has had on the baseball program and we are delighted that he will remain an active member within the baseball alumni and community,” Mooney said.
The department will begin to conduct a search for the new head baseball coach in the upcoming weeks.
Joining the MCLA staff this year, Monica Conlin will assist both the men’s and women’s cross country programs. Conlin will begin her duties immediately. She was a two-year letter winner for MCLA under current head coach Rob Colantuono.
Leah Sullivan also enters her first season on the sidelines for women’s lacrosse. She was a member of the program during their inaugural varsity campaign in 2014 being named MVP in the process. Sullivan will assist head coach Maria Bartini in all areas of the program.
