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Geri Knortz, Ed.D. M'05
	Athletics Director
	gknortz@smcvt.edu
	802.654.2200

On May 7, 1997, Geraldine S. Knortz, Ed.D., became the fifth athletics director in the College's 93-year history, and the first woman to ever hold the position.

"We were looking for someone with the leadership abilities to carry Saint Michael's into the 21st century, with concern for all students," college president Marc A. vanderHeyden said. "I am convinced we have found the right person in Geri Knortz."

While at Saint Michael's, Knortz has guided the successful transition of the women's ice hockey program to varsity status and the men's ice hockey program's move to the ECAC East Conference. Knortz has also been instrumental in the addition of numerous full-time coaching positions, improvements to coaches offices, the renovation of the Ross Sports Center gymnasium floor in 2001, and the construction of the Duffy Artificial Turf Field in 2005.

Under her leadership, notable team successes include the field hockey team's semifinal finish at the 2000 and 2001 NCAA Championship, the men's basketball "Sweet Sixteen" appearance in 2001, and the crowning of the men's hockey team as the 1999 NCAA Division II Champions. In 2007-08, the women's tennis team earned the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament (the program qualified for the NCAA Tournament again in 2008-09), and the men's ice hockey team was crowned Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament champions (the team earned another NE-10 Tournament championship in 2008-09).

Knortz has been a member of many college committees at Saint Michael's including: strategic planning, athletic advisory, technology steering, administrative council, and numerous search committees. At the national level, she currently serves on the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics, and is past chair of the NCAA Division II Nominating Committee and the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee for the Northeast District. She is also active with the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators.

Knortz prepared well for her opportunity at Saint Michael's during a very successful 15 year career at Hamilton College, where she held the position of associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator. She was also a professor of physical education (tenured 1987), and coached two varsity sports: volleyball and softball.

She is a 1974 graduate (magna cum laude) of the State University of New York at Cortland, where she earned a bachelor of science in physical education and mathematics. She went on to earn her master of science in education at Northern Illinois University in 1978, a master of science in administration at Saint Michael's in 2005, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policies from the University of Vermont in 2009.