DOVER, Del. ? Delaware State University has named Richard “Rick” J. Costello as its new Athletics Director who will continue directing the institution's visionary pursuit of high levels of excellence in its sport programs.
Mr. Costello comes to DSU after serving the last four years as the associate athletics director at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. He succeeds outgoing Athletics Director Chuck Bell who decided to step down after two years due to personal family concerns.
DSU President Allen L. Sessoms said that Mr. Costello is taking over the helm of an athletics department that has already made significant progress in fulfilling the ambitious vision established by the University almost four years ago for its intercollegiate sports programs.
“Under outgoing AD Chuck Bell's leadership, the University has upgraded its Alumni Stadium, moved towards greater gender equity by establishing a Women's Equestrian Team, expanded several coaching positions to full-time and hired new wrestling and bowling coaches, experienced the unprecedented successes of our men's and women's basketball teams and the improvement of other sports programs, as well as commenced the construction of a new strength and conditioning facility,” Dr. Sessoms said.
“The stellar career track record of Rick Costello gives us great faith that he will build on those accomplishments and lead DSU Athletics to new levels of excellence and achievements,” the DSU president added.
The new athletics director brings extensive experience in collegiate sports finance and administration over the last 10 years. At the University of South Florida, Mr. Costello served as the institution's first-ever chief financial officer/associate athletic director. In that capacity he provided leadership and administrative oversight for the strategic and fiscal management of the USF Athletics Department.
In that post, Mr. Costello managed USF's $32 million athletic department budget, and also supervised and oversaw the areas of finance, human resources, information technology, ticket operations and facilities.
Under Mr. Costello's business and finance leadership, the USF Athletic Department has had four consecutive balanced budgets. He also completed negotiations with the Big East Conference, International Sports Properties/ESPN (a 10-year deal, $22 million contract), Tampa Sports Authority, Golf Strategies, Ticketmaster, XOS Technology, Action Sports, and other contract entities. He also finalized the construction of the school's $18 million Athletics Training Center.
Mr. Costello also chaired the bowl committees that directed USF's initial postseason appearance in the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. and later the 2006 Papa John's Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama. He also supervised USF's women's and men's golf teams, men's tennis, as well as the women's tennis team (the 2007 Big East Champion ? a first in USF history).
Doug Woolard, USF director of athletics, said that DSU is getting an outstanding administrator in Rick Costello. “He has a far-ranging breadth of knowledge on building an environment that will lead to success for Delaware State's student-athletes, both academically and athletically,” Mr. Woolard said. “Rick has a strong commitment to maximize the student-athlete experience. Delaware State is very fortunate to have him lead their athletics department.”
Prior to his USF tenure, Mr. Costello served from 2001-2003 as the athletic director for business operations at San Jose State University, where he was responsible for that athletics department's fiscal and business affairs. From 1997 to 2001 he worked as a senior budget analyst at Lehigh University, where he also served as an assistant coach of men's basketball from 1991-1994.
Outgoing DSU Athletics Director Chuck Bell, who the new AD worked under at San Jose State, said he has been impressed with Rick Costello for 10 years and has watched him develop into one of the outstanding young administrators in collegiate athletics. “He was integral in our successes at San Jose State; he has been instrumental in the University of South Florida's move into the Big East Conference and the development of new facilities there,” Mr. Bell said. “DSU is fortunate to be able to attract Rick and his lovely family to this institution.”
A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Costello has a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Muhlenberg College, cum laude, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Lehigh University. Mr. Costello comes to Delaware with his wife Amy, and their three children ? Kelsea, 9 Lauren 6, and Ryan 4.
Mr. Costello officially takes over as DSU athletics director on July 23.
