April 3, 2013
University of Notre Dame senior assistant athletics director Josh Berlotoday was named director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. University of Minnesota Duluth chancellor Lendley “Lynn” Black made the announcement.
Berlo at Notre Dame served as senior assistant athletics director for guest relations and event marketing. A Notre Dame athletics staff member for 12 years, Berlo has overseen all aspects of athletic event marketing, game presentation, fan experience and ticketing for 26 athletic programs. He supervised a staff of approximately 40 and a combined budget of nearly $4 million. Berlo served as the sport administrator for Notre Dame baseball–and he is also on the executive committee of the highly-regarded Sports Management Institute.
“Josh has a proven track record of leadership in Division I athletics with strategic planning, budgeting, recruiting and hiring of coaches, NCAA compliance, academic mentoring of student athletes, and increasing resources for programs and facilities,” said Chancellor Black. “He also understands the values and importance of Division II athletics. We believe his experience and skills will help foster the continued national prominence of UMD athletics and promote new levels of excellence.”
“I want to personally thank the student athletes, coaches, faculty, staff and alumni who served on the search committee and faced the difficult task of selecting an athletic director from a nationwide pool of outstanding applicants,” said Chancellor Black.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Chancellor Black, Dr. Vince Magnuson and everyone involved in the search process,” said Berlo. “My wife and I are very excited about coming to Duluth and joining the Northland and Minnesota community. I was drawn to the values of UMD and Bulldog athletics and am looking forward to furthering the traditions of national championships and academic excellence,” he said.
Berlo is a native of Warren, R.I. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame.
In 2008, Berlo earned the Notre Dame student government Irish Clover Award for outstanding service to the student body. He serves as advisor to the Leprechaun Legion Student Body Athletic Advisory Board.
“UMD has hired one of the rising young stars in the business. Josh will bring creativity, energy, and commitment to the student-athlete that will serve UMD well,” said Jack Swarbrick, vice president and director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame.
Berlo and his wife, Meg, will be relocating to Duluth from Mishawaka, Ind. Josh and Meg enjoy outdoor recreation, especially skiing, hiking, canoeing and mountain biking. They look forward to exploring the north woods.
As director of intercollegiate athletics, Berlo will supervise all UMD head coaches, staff and administrative personnel. He will also be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic plan, managing a departmental budget, directing the use of UMD athletic facilities, and leading fundraising and marketing efforts.
Now in its 82nd year of operation, the UMD Department of Intercollegiate Athletics maintains one of the most competitive and well-balanced programs of its size in the country. Since 2000-01, the Bulldogs have won eight national championships and 46 conference titles.
UMD has 14 teams in NCAA Division II (baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball) and two teams, men’s and women’s ice hockey, in NCAA Division I.
Berlo will begin his new position on May 1.