WNEU appoints Sassi as interim Director of Athletics

Aug. 10, 2017 | Payton North
payton@thereminder.com

Joe Sassi of East Longmeadow has been named the interim director of Athletics at Western New England University.



EAST LONGMEADOW – As Western New England University’s (WNEU) Director of Athletics Mike Theulen retired after nearly two decades, Joe Sassi of East Longmeadow has taken over the role for the next year prior to a national search for the University’s next director of Athletics.

Sassi has been employed by WNEU since 1998, and began working for the University at the same time as Theulen.  Sassi has assumed various positions on the campus, including assistant director of Athletics, associate director of Athletics and most recently senior associate director until his July 10 appointment to the Director of Athletics position. 

Sassi is enjoying the role change now that he’s been settling into his new director of Athletics position.

“Now I’m the primary decision maker for the Athletic Department, I focus on keeping everyone on point.  Our mission is to try to keep everything student athlete centered,” Sassi said.

Though he’s always been involved with different areas in the Athletics Department over the years at WNEU, he’s found since taking on the new role, he touches upon different academic departments as well.  Currently, he’s working with College of Business Department Chair and Professor of Sport Management Sharianne Walker.

“When you’re a director, you touch on every department of the institution. We’re re-envisioning the department with Sharianne Walker,” Sassi said.

On Aug. 11 the football team moves back to campus and begins to practice for the upcoming season. In the meantime, Sassi is keeping busy planning the WNE Golf Classic, which is a major fundraiser for the department.  Additionally, Sassi has been hiring new staff, meeting with assistant athletic directors, budgeting, and making sure the athletic facilities are clean and ready for the student’s arrival in a few weeks.

“The great thing about D3 [Division Three] is the experience.  They [students] are learning because it’s co-curricular,” Sassi said.

While Sassi will serve in this position for the 2017-2018 school year while the university completes a formal search for a full-time director of Athletics, he is interested in taking on the role for the long haul.

“I’m going to see how everything plays out, but there’s definitely an interest. It’s a great institution to be a director of Athletics at,” Sassi added, “I have to see where I’m at not only professionally but personally.”

Over the course of previous Director of Athletics Mike Theulen’s tenure, WNEU had an impressive run. The campus received 42 All-Americans and 18 Academic All-Americans honors, as well as 51 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) appearances. Additionally, the Golden Bears captured a combined 63 conference crowns, including 30 as a member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and 22 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, according to a press release provided by the university.

Additionally, 15 of the 19 varsity programs offered at Western New England earned at least one conference title while Theulen was in office.

“It has been an honor to witness all of the amazing accomplishments of our coaches and student-athletes over the years.  Our Golden Bear administrative staff, athletics, athletic training, sports information and recreation have allowed our university to really shine and serve as a measuring stick for other schools to emulate,” Theulen said in a statement.

Moving forward, Sassi hopes to continue on with the “Western New England Way."

He said, “We want to move forward as an institution and keep ourselves consistent with our academics, athletics, leadership and service.”

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