Judy Ann Riccio Named Vice President and Director of Athletics

Athletics leader elevated after guiding SHU through historic conference transitions and record facility investments

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart University promoted Judy Ann Riccio to vice president and director of athletics, expanding her leadership role after more than five years overseeing SHU’s Division I athletics program
• Riccio has spent more than 20 years at Sacred Heart and became the first woman to lead the University’s athletics program when she was named athletic director
• SHU President John J. Petillo credited Riccio with guiding Pioneer athletics through significant change, citing her commitment to student-athletes, strategic vision, and ability to deliver results as reasons for her promotion

Sacred Heart University has named Judy Ann Riccio vice president and director of athletics, elevating her role after more than five years of transformational leadership at the helm of the University’s Division I (DI) athletics program.

Riccio has been a dedicated member of the Sacred Heart community for more than 20 years. She served as director of athletics and her appointment as vice president recognizes both the depth of her institutional impact and the University’s continued investment in the growth and excellence of Pioneer athletics.

“Judy Ann has been an extraordinary leader for our athletics program and for this University,” said SHU President John J. Petillo. “Her dedication to our student-athletes, her vision for the future of SHU athletics, and her ability to deliver results during a period of significant change make her promotion not only well-deserved, but essential to our continued momentum.”

When Riccio was first named director of athletics, she became the first woman to lead the University’s athletics program, one of only 57 women nationwide at the time to hold such a role at a DI institution. That distinction reflects a broader commitment to leadership that has defined her tenure.

Under her direction, Sacred Heart successfully transitioned from the Northeast Conference to the Metro Conference for most sports, while also securing new conference affiliations for football in the Coastal Athletic Association, men's volleyball in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, and women's bowling in Conference USA. These moves position the University for sustained competitive and institutional success.

Riccio has also overseen a series of significant facility investments, including the opening of Martire Family Arena, a complete renovation of the William Pitt Athletic & Convocation Center, and recent renovations to the football stadium and lacrosse field. She secured the largest sponsorship in the history of SHU athletics and established the first naming-rights partnership for Sikorsky Credit Union Field.

During the 2022–23 season, the SHU women's basketball team became the first program in Northeast Conference history to win an NCAA Tournament game. Sacred Heart teams have captured four conference cups during her tenure, reflecting excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

In a question-and-answer session, Riccio reflected on her time at SHU, her thoughts on the future of SHU athletics, and what she hopes students can get from attending a game.

When you became athletic director, you were one of only 57 women leading a Division I athletics program. What has that experience meant to you?

When I became an athletic director, being one of only 57 women leading a Division I athletics program was both an incredible honor and a tremendous responsibility. What has meant the most to me is not simply being one of those 57 women but hopefully helping to make that number less remarkable for the next generation. I want women entering this profession to see the athletic director’s chair as an opportunity to pursue, not an exception to explain.

What is your vision for the next chapter of Sacred Heart athletics?

My vision for the next chapter of Sacred Heart Athletics is to build on the tremendous momentum we have created and position Sacred Heart as one of the premier mid-sized Division I athletic programs in the Northeast.

We have made some significant moves over the past several years. The next chapter is about maximizing those opportunities and establishing a culture where excellence is the expectation across the entire department.

That means competing for championships, providing our student-athletes with the resources and support they need to be successful, and continuing to invest in our coaches, facilities, and programs. But just as importantly, I want our student-athletes to graduate knowing that their experience at Sacred Heart prepared them to be successful well beyond their time on the playing field.

We have an incredible opportunity before us, and I want the next chapter to be defined by competitive success, an exceptional student-athlete experience, and a department that the entire Sacred Heart community can be proud of.

What would you say to students who may not have attended many athletic events before about getting involved this year?

I would say that we need you out there, Pioneer Nation! College athletics is about so much more than what happens on the court or field; it’s about the atmosphere, the energy, the traditions, and spending time with your friends and classmates.

We have so many exciting things happening this year, with new opponents and new rivalries. Whether you're watching basketball at the Pitt Center, hockey at Martire Family Arena, enjoying a football Saturday at the Outpost, or supporting one of our other teams, there are many opportunities to come out and cheer on the Pios.

Pictured, from left, are Judy Ann Riccio, SHU President John Petillo, Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference Commissioner Joe D'Antonio, and SHU Football Head Coach Mark Nofri.