Maryanne Simkulak Hired as SSC Assistant Commissioner for Membership Services

Photo Courtesy of Barry University

Maryanne Simkulak has been hired as the Sunshine State Conference Assistant Commissioner for Membership Services, Commissioner Jay Jones announced on Tuesday.  Simkulak will assume her duties in the Orlando-based office beginning Jan. 4, 2010.

In her new role as assistant commissioner, Simkulak’s primary duties will include oversight of the conference’s NCAA rules compliance program.  Her daily responsibilities will include providing rules interpretations and reviewing various eligibility paperwork submitted by member institutions.  She will also coordinate the National Letter of Intent and NCAA Coaches Certification programs.

In addition to her compliance tasks, Simkulak will serve as a liaison to the SSC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and will help promote and encourage community engagement activities on the campuses of the league’s nine member institutions.  Her involvement with the SAAC will continue a relationship she had previously forged as a volunteer co-advisor to the program for the past three years.

Simkulak comes to the SSC office after working in various roles at SSC member Barry University since August 2003.  Beginning her tenure as an administrative graduate assistant, she was most recently serving as an assistant director of athletics.  As an assistant AD, she managed all facets of Barry’s compliance program, coordinated NCAA and SSC waivers, conducted rules education sessions with coaches, and processed all National Letters of Intent.  She also served as advisor of Barry’s extremely active SAAC and coordinated athletic department special events such as the annual student-athlete banquet and National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Maryanne’s background and positive energy joining our staff,” Jones said.  “As we went through a competitive interview process with several quality candidates, Maryanne’s experience with our conference SAAC and her background in the area of rules compliance stood out as qualities that made her a perfect fit for this position.”

Prior to joining the staff at Barry, Simkulak served as an intern in the athletic department at Nova Southeastern University and in the SSC office.

Simkulak graduated magna cum laude from Lynn University in May 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management.  She earned her master’s degree in sports management from Barry University in May 2005.

The SSC is comprised of nine private institutions located within the state of Florida.  Members include:  Barry University (Miami Shores), Eckerd College (St. Petersburg), Florida Southern College (Lakeland), Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne), Lynn University (Boca Raton), Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale), Rollins College (Winter Park), Saint Leo University (St. Leo) and the University of Tampa.