Sacred Heart names Riccio executive director of athletics
Sacred Heart has named Judy Ann Riccio as athletic director, removing the interim tag from her title.
Riccio became interim AD on June 8 as Bobby Valentine took a leave of absence to run for mayor of Stamford.
She is the first female AD to lead the school’s Division I program and the 57th woman to head a Division I athletic department. Only 36 of the 57 schools have football programs.
There are 357 Division I schools in the country.
“I am incredibly honored to have the privilege of becoming the first female athletic director to lead the Pioneers. I will work every day to provide our studentathletes with the best possible experience,” Riccio said.
Riccio served as executive director of the divisional budget and chief financial officer of intercollegiate athletic budgets for the past 17 years. She In July 2020, she became senior woman administrator.
She has also served on the school’s Title IX Committee, the Pioneer Journey of Transformational Education Committee, as well as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group.
“This is a transformational day for SHU athletics,” said Jim Barquinero, senior vice president of enrollment, student affairs and athletics. “Judy Ann’s leadership skills, combined with her passion for the studentathlete experience, will allow her to build on the success of our 33 D-I programs. I am excited to see her impact as she takes on leadership of our program and builds on the success we have already experienced. Judy Ann truly is a Pioneer.”
A 1996 Fairfield graduate, Riccio began her career as an auditor for Price Waterhouse. She later worked in the financial divisions at Hofstra and Fairfield before joining Sacred Heart.
The Seaford, N.Y. native resides in Trumbull with her husband, Frank, and two children, Ryan and Lauren.
“Judy Ann brings a wealth of institutional and industry experience as well as a commitment to the University’s mission,” said SHU president John J. Petillo. “She has demonstrated excellence in every facet of the program from policies and procedures to the fan experience, and I look forward to seeing our program continue to flourish under her leadership.”