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For Immediate
Release: September 30, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956)
381-2240
CHRIS UCHACZ PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
EDINBURG, TX- The University of Texas-Pan American's first-ever Director
of Academic Support and Student Services for Athletics has been promoted.
Chris Uchacz, who served in that position for the past year and is in
his fourth year as a member of the Texas-Pan American athletic administration,
has been named Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support and
Student Services, effective immediately.
Charged with overseeing the academic progress of all UT Pan American
student-athletes, Uchacz is responsible for the planning, development
and coordination of academic support programs and student services for
all 14 UTPA NCAA Division I athletic programs. He has also been responsible
for the implementation of the Freshman/Transfer Orientation Program,
various study skills workshops, NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Seminars, coordinating
tutorial services, and acting as liaison to the Student-Athlete Advisory
Council.
Last spring, UTPA student-athletes earned a cumulative grade-point average
of 2.88, with 61 of 148 athletes, or 41 per cent, earning a 3.0 or better.
Last spring, six UTPA student-athletes were named Arthur Ashe Junior
Sport Scholar Award winners, 24 were named to the Dean's List, 25 were
named United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholars, 48 were
chosen for the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, and 61 were members of
the Bronc Pride 3.0 Club. The UTPA women's tennis team received Academic
All-American honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, and
three tennis players were named ITA Scholar-Athletes.
Uchacz came to UT Pan American from the University of Illinois, where
he served on the Academic Advising Staff, working in the Athletic Department's
Wellness Program while counseling student-athletes. He holds an Honors
Degree in Physical Education from Brock University in St. Catharines,
Ontario, and a Master's Degree in Human Kinetics from the University
of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. Uchacz is currently a Ph.D. candidate
at Illinois.
"We are pleased to formally announce the naming of Chris Uchacz
as our Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support and Student
Services at The University of Texas-Pan American," said UTPA Director
of Athletics William J. Weidner. "Chris has been an integral part
of our administrative staff since his arrival on our campus and is most
worthy of this promotion. The impressive academic performance of our
student-athletes is reflective of his commitment, dedication and tireless
work ethic in regards to providing a supportive environment for our
student-athletes in which their efforts towards the successful attainment
of an earned degree remains a top priority. We congratulate Chris on
his promotion, and look forward to his renewed efforts in his expanded
role as an Assistant Athletic Director."
"I'm very excited at the promotion," said Uchacz.
"I'll continue to work hard within the department as my role within
the administration expands. My new role will afford myself and my staff
the opportunity to expand the current student services component of
our academic support system for student-athletes. It's truly an honor
to work for an athletic director and university administration who are
so supportive of the academic successes of our student-athletes."
GE-04-03
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