FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann has announced a series of administrative promotions within Fairfield University Athletics to kick off the 2023-24 academic year.
"I am excited to announce a series of well-deserved promotions among our administrative team," said Schlickmann. "Each of these five individuals has been instrumental in the continued growth of Stags Athletics. I am grateful for their relentless work ethic, passion and positive energy that have a daily impact on the dynamics of our department. We are fortunate to have such talented people and recognize them for their extensive contributions to our success. With each promotion comes a heightened level of responsibility as we strive to keep pace with the modern demands of college athletics and the needs of operating a high-level Division I program."
Zach Dayton has been promoted to Assistant Vice President in addition to his current Deputy Athletics Director title. Dayton plays a key role in the management of the daily operations of the athletics department as well as strategic initiatives focused on achieving championship caliber results. He also oversees the external operations unit for the department which includes, marketing, ticket sales, broadcast operations, communications and digital strategy. Dayton serves as a sport administrator for baseball, women's soccer, men's lacrosse as well as men's and women's golf.
Kathy Geiling has been promoted to the title of Director of Administrative Services. Geiling oversees several administrative functions and is the department's liaison to Human Resources. She is integral in the daily management of the office for the Vice President for Athletics and also works with several offices across campus to support the needs of Stags student-athletes and coaches.
Michael Harris has been elevated to Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance. Harris will continue to lead the sports performance unit and sports nutrition initiatives. In addition, Harris has been instrumental in the development and management of the Stags Care Team, which was created as a support system for student-athlete mental health initiatives. Harris will also add sport administrator responsibilities to assist the department.
Sarah Ratchford has been promoted to Associate Athletics Director, Marketing and Revenue Generation. In this enhanced role, Ratchford will oversee the marketing and fan experience elements of game day while also playing a key role in driving revenue for the department through ticket sales, sponsorship and licensing. In this new role she will be the day-to-day contact with the PlayFly Aspire Fan Relationship Management Center. Ratchford will also serve as the lead administrator for the cheer and dance teams as well as the pep band.
Ivey Speight has been elevated to Assistant Athletics Director/Communications and Video. In his 10th year as a full-time member of the communications staff, Speight has made an impact across the department sharing the successes of Stags student-athletes and coaches through his work as the lead videographer for the department. Speight also serves as the primary media relations contact for women's soccer, women's basketball and baseball. He is a 2012 Fairfield graduate and was a recipient of the ECAC Certificate of Appreciation from the Athletics Department, the Fairfield University Student Achievement Award, and the New Media: Film, Television, and Journalism Award as an undergraduate.
