University of Minnesota Athletics
Schemmel Accepts Position At Arizona State University
1/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"The decision to leave Minnesota and all our friends, both inside and outside the university, was not an easy one," Schemmel said "You don't spend 12 years at a place like this without forever taking with you the strong ties and great memories. This opportunity at ASU is simply too good for my family and I to pass up.
Jeff Schemmel has been a Golden Gopher for more than a decade. A native of Madison, S.D., Schemmel joined the U of M as associate director of athletics in 1991. In that position, he was the director and administrator of the athletics compliance program. In addition, Schemmel served as the director for all men's NCAA and Big Ten championships hosted by the U of M.
In 1995, former men's athletics director Mark Dienhart promoted Schemmel to senior associate athletics director where he served as chief operating officer. Working closely with former ADs, Dienhart and Tom Moe, Schemmel oversaw all departmental operations, including all men's sports, business operations, marketing, ticket office and all legal matters regarding the athletic department. Schemmel played a similar role in the combined Intercollegiate Athletics Department under Joel Maturi.
"The University of Minnesota appreciates Jeff's service to the University for more than a decade," said Athletics Director Joel Maturi. "Jeff served under four athletic directors, and is very much responsible for hiring many of the coaches and support staff of the former men's athletics department. He is the consummate administrator and his experience and loyalty to the Maroon and Gold will be missed and not easily replaced."
In addition to his administrative work in the department, Schemmel served as the executive director of the 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four held at the Metrodome. Schemmel was also instrumental in the "Save Gopher Sports" campaign and the "Save Gopher Sports" telethon which raised more than $600,000 toward saving the men's and women's golf and men's gymnastics programs at the University.
Prior to joining the U of M staff, Schemmel was an assistant athletics director at his alma mater, Kansas State, from 1988-91. There, he supervised all Olympic sports, directed the compliance program, served as in-house legal counsel and directed all fundraising.
Schemmel and his wife of 25 years, Lori, have two sons, Justin and Jon. Justin is a senior at North Dakota State University and plays baseball for the Bison. Jon is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, and plays baseball for the Golden Gophers.
Schemmel will assume his responsibilities at Arizona State in late February.
