Rock Chalk Park Officially Underway

Athletics Director Dr. Sheahon Zenger, Thomas and Dru Fritzel, KU Endowment and all three head coaches were on hand to break ground

Jim Marchiony was hired as Associate Athletics Director for External Relations at the University of Kansas in August, 2003. In July, 2011, Marchiony was named Associate Athletics Director - Communications/Media Relations. He oversees the licensing efforts for Kansas Athletics, as well as the media relations and video departments. He is also responsible for oversight of the Kansas Athletics website and oversees the sports of Tennis and Volleyball.

Marchiony came to Lawrence from the University of Connecticut where he served as Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. His primary duties at UConn involved television and radio, marketing, corporate sponsorships, licensing and sports communications.

Prior to his stint at UConn, Marchiony spent 17 1/2 years at the NCAA, serving the last five years as media coordinator for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Before serving as media coordinator, Marchiony served in various communications roles, primarily dealing with television and media relations.

Before serving at the NCAA, Marchiony was Director of Sports Information at Georgetown University and Iona College. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from St. Bonaventure University.

He and his wife, Mary Beth, who is head of school for Topeka Collegiate, have one son, Donald, a dual-degree graduate of the University of Kansas.