Albertus Magnus College announces the appointment of former UCONN men's basketball player James Abromaitis as director of athletics, effective July 22. President Julia M. McNamara said “We are delighted to welcome Jim Abromaitis to the Albertus Magnus community and campus. He brings to the College a very strong background, which includes economic development, administration, banking, and experience as a player in the world of college and professional athletics. His broad experience in education, business and athletics across the state and beyond will serve the College well as we move to expand our athletic programs.”
“I have had a longtime ambition to be involved in athletic administration, and I know that my experiences will help me build upon the tradition and success of Albertus Magnus College,” said Abromaitis. “Division III athletic programs are pure sport, allowing participants to develop their potential as students as well as athletes.”
Most recently Abromaitis served as executive director of the Capital City Economic Development Authority in Hartford, with oversight of the Connecticut Convention Center, where he led efforts to attract sporting events to the facility. He was a member and elected chair of the State of Connecticut Sports Advisory Board; commissioner of the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development for a decade; and a trustee of the University of Connecticut.
Earlier in his career, he spent several years in the banking industry.
Abromaitis, after a successful basketball career
at UCONN and being drafted by the New Jersey Nets, went on to play
professionally overseas for six years. He earned a B.A. in urban
studies and an M.A. in education, both from UCONN. Until recently
he served as a member of the Holy Cross High School Board of
Directors in Waterbury. Abromaitis resides in Unionville with his
wife, Debra. They have two sons.
McNamara also announced the promotion of Kristen Altieri DeCarli to associate director of athletics, also effective July 22. DeCarli has served as the acting director of athletics since February 2013. “We thank Kristen for her exemplary work during the past few months as acting director of athletics,” McNamara said. DeCarli came to Albertus in July 2011 as assistant athletic director/sports information director and senior woman administrator. She was previously at the University of Connecticut, where she served as primary media contact for eight sports programs. She is a cum laude graduate of Endicott College, where she majored in sports management.
Albertus Magnus College, a Catholic College in the Dominican Tradition founded in 1925, serves nearly 1,700 women and men in its undergraduate and graduate programs. It is a member of the NCAA Division III, playing 14 sports in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. The College’s newest varsity sports, men’s and women’s lacrosse, will debut in spring 2014.
