W&J selects new AD
Washington & Jefferson College announced Wednesday that Scott McGuinness will be the Presidents’ athletic director beginning July 1.
McGuinness, who has worked at W&J since 2001 primarily as the sports information director, spent the last academic year as interim co-director of athletics.
“Washington & Jefferson College has a proud and distinguished history of excellence in athletics coupled with a deep respect for the powerful impact that athletics can have on the education and character of the students who participate as well as the campus community,” Eva Chatterjee-Sutton, vice president of student life and dean of students, said in a school release. “I am confident that Scott McGuiness will build on these traditions and values and provide strong leadership for all of our varsity, club and recreational programs.”
As a part of the athletic department restructuring, Mark Lesako will take on a dual responsibility as associate director of athletics, while also continuing to serve as co-head athletic trainer with his brother Mike Lesako.
“I am thankful to President Tori Haring-Smith, Dean Eva Chatterjee-Sutton and the entire college administration for their trust in me with this wonderful opportunity,” McGuinness said. “Washington & Jefferson College is a special institution where academics combine with intercollegiate athletics to provide a memorable experience. We had a number of remarkable athletic accomplishments during 2014-15, notably four conference titles for the first time since 2009, as well as three Academic All-Americans, and I am excited to help keep that momentum going.”
McGuinness played a major role in helping Washington & Jefferson College secure the bid to host the 2015 NCAA Division III Mideast Baseball Regional last month. The football, baseball, men’s golf and women’s golf teams won PAC championships and Nick Carr won the first NCAA Division III wrestling title in program history. McGuinness and Lesako also helped to restructure the department’s intern coach program, while helping to oversee construction of the college’s new tennis courts which will debut in the fall.
McGuinness is a 2000 graduate of Shippensburg University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. He is a native of Monroeville, and a graduate of Gateway High School. He and his wife, Amanda, have two children: son Colman (3) and daughter Maysen (1).
Women’s basketball coach Jina DeRubbo and baseball coach Jeff Mountain have been chosen as assistant directors of athletics. DeRubbo, W&J’s senior women’s administrator and Title IX coordinator, has a 348-152 record in 18 years as a Division III basketball coach. Mountain was recently named the PAC Baseball Coach of the Year for this sixth time in 12 seasons and his teams have a 361-202 record with nine trips to the postseason.