Contact:                        Pat Vieira, Public Affairs Officer
                                (401) 865-2413

For Immediate Release:  August 6, 2001


Providence College Announces Interim Leadership Plan for Athletics Department


        Providence, RI  – Providence College has announced that as part of an
interim leadership plan for the athletics department, current assistant
athletic director Mark Devine will assume responsibility for overseeing
that department's operations, reporting to the college's executive vice
president, Rev. Terence J. Keegan, O.P. Devine will not be a candidate for
the position of athletic director.
        Devine, who has been a member of the athletic department since 1993, will
be responsible for overseeing the department's day-to-day operations,
including Providence College's 21 Division I NCAA varsity sports. He also
will continue to serve as manager of operations for the Schneider Arena,
the college's ice hockey venue, a position he has held since 1994.
        The three other senior administrators who comprise the athletic
department's interim management team – Jill LaPoint, associate director of
athletics and senior women's athletic administrator; Daniel McCabe,
associate athletic director, who oversees the marketing and sports
information areas; and Joseph D'Antonio, assistant athletic director for
compliance and administration – will continue to function in their current
areas of responsibility.
        This interim plan is in place while the ten-member search committee begins
its work this week to recommend qualified finalists for the college's next
athletic director. The goal is to have a new athletic director hired on or
before January 1, 2002.
        "Mark brings to this interim leadership position a wealth of experience
from nearly a decade of service to the Providence College athletic
department, and as tournament director for the NCAA Frozen Four," noted
college President Rev. Philip A. Smith, O.P. "As the athletic administrator
with the most senior-level experience, I am confident he will work with his
fellow managers to insure that our fall athletic season gets off to a
strong start."

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