Center for Sport Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University

On Wednesday July 30, 2008, Nathan Tomasini, Ph.D., was named director of the VCU SportsCenter. Tomasini began his involvement in collegiate athletics and higher education in 1997 when he was hired in marketing for Sacramento State Athletics, while also teaching in the kinesiology department. Wanting to further his education, in 2003, he completed his Ph.D. in Sport Administration at the University of Northern Colorado. While completing his degree, Tomasini instructed a number of sport administration courses and worked on the feasibility plan for Northern Colorado’s transition from NCAA Division II to Division I.

Upon the completion of his doctorate, Tomasini was hired at the University of North Carolina to develop their undergraduate sport administration program, and he eventually became the director of graduate studies in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. While at Carolina, Tomasini worked with the Department of Athletics and the Atlantic Coast Conference conducting market research and economic impact studies. The VCU SportsCenter hired Tomasini in the fall of 2007 as the associate director for academic affairs. With prior experience coaching basketball, additional duties were to manage Villa 7, a successful program designed to bring top Division I assistant basketball coaches together with athletic directors of Division I universities to network and discuss opportunities for career advancement.

Tomasini has already made great strides toward improving the VCU SportsCenter in both academics and appearance. The SportsCenter has undergone a major restructuring this summer and is primed for great success. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the SportsCenter and helping to build this into one of the top programs in the country.”

The VCU SportsCenter will begin the 2008-09 academic year on Aug. 21, 2008 when new and returning students arrive for orientation.

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Siri Mullinix, Olympic medalist and NCAA national champion, is joining the VCU family as the goalkeeper coach for the women’s soccer team, and will begin classes at the VCU SportsCenter this fall. Mullinix’s accomplishments are extensive, including being named a two-time first-team All-American and winning the national title twice with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels’ storied program. As a professional, Mullinix won a silver medal while competing with the 2000 Olympic U.S. Women’s national soccer team, and was a major force in the Women’s United Soccer Association, competing with the Washington Freedom.

The relationship between VCU women’s co-head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and Mullinix was a main factor in securing Mullinix as the new women’s soccer goalkeeper coach.

Mullinix said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “I’ve known [Roberts Sahaydak and her husband, Tim, the Ram’s co-head coach] for a long time so I know I’m joining a great staff. To also get an opportunity to work with a good friend and an old teammate again was very appealing and extremely exciting.” Mullinix was hired as the women’s goalkeeper coach after working at UNC Greensboro for the past three years.

“Siri will be a great addition to our program this year,” says Nathan Tomasini, Ph.D., director of the VCU SportsCenter; “She will provide the students with invaluable insight into the inner workings of collegiate, professional and Olympic sports, and will also be a tremendous source for networking.” The VCU SportsCenter is excited Mullinix will be attending in the fall as she will add to the already outstanding list of new and returning students.

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