June 1, 2000
Director of Athletics Timothy M. Hofferth will be leaving his post at Villanova University effective July 1, 2000 to accept a position with Nelligan Sports Marketing as President and Chief Operating Officer. Nelligan Sports Marketing, Inc., is a sports marketing company that provides sales and marketing expertise for sports properties worldwide. NSM's personnel have extensive experience in college sports and represent some of the elite college properties, including the Big East Conference, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Rutgers University, St. John's University and Seton Hall University, in addition to several other sports properties.
"I would like to personally thank Father Dobbin (Villanova President) for the great opportunities he has provided for me at Villanova University," said Hofferth. "Villanova has been an incredible experience for me and my family. This has been a very difficult decision for me to make due to the wonderful relationships and people I have had the chance to work with during my years at Villanova. This new endeavor with NSM is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I feel I need to pursue."
As a member of the Villanova Athletic Department since 1993, when he was named Assistant Athletic Director of External Operations to his time as Senior Associate Athletic Director and eventually being named Director of Athletics on Oct. 3, 1997, Hofferth has been the driving force behind a highly successful revenue enhancement program. Under Hofferth's watch, Villanova Athletics annual gross revenue in Corporate Partnerships and radio and television rights grew from $186,000 in the 1993-94 academic year to over $4 million in gross revenue for the 1999-2000 academic year. The total contracted revenue in corporate partnerships generated by Villanova Athletics under Hofferth's guidance is over $27 million. During Hofferth's tenure, Villanova Athletics has taken its radio and television rights in-house and have complete control of seven radio and television programs.
In the classroom, Villanova student-athletes have excelled throughout the Hofferth Administration. During the 1999-2000 academic year, Villanova's 570 student-athletes combined to earn a 2.94 grade point average, including 271 Wildcat student-athletes earning a 3.0 or better. The 2.94 GPA rates as the highest of any semester in the past 14 years.
"Tim's leadership and vision has brought Villanova Athletics to new heights in the seven years we have worked together," said Villanova University President Reverend Edmund J. Dobbin. "I wish him great success with his new endeavor."
