Advisory Council | Exercise Science and Sports Leadership

Sports Leadership Advisory Council

John Carroll University established an advisory council to advance its Mike Cleary Program in Sports Leadership. The council is composed of well-known sports industry, college athletics, business, and academic leaders. The role of the advisory council is to provide resources and professional advice that will further the interest and opportunities for undergraduate students at John Carroll who are pursuing sports-related careers.

Members of the Advisory Council:

Owen Cleary ‘92, Chair, General Manager, Wakefield Equipment
Kevin Anderson, Director of Athletics, University of Maryland
Mike Buddie, Director of Athletics, The United States Military Academy (West Point)
Dr. Margaret Farrar, Professor, John Carroll University
David Gilbert, President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
Dino Lucarelli, Director of Alumni Relations (retired), Cleveland Browns
Oliver Luck, CEO and Commissioner of Xtreme Football League (XFL)
Dr. Kathleen Manning ‘72G, Director, Mike Cleary Program in Sports Leadership
Sean O’Toole, Director of Athletics, Gilmour Academy
Lee Reed, Director of Athletics, Georgetown University
Gene Smith, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Endowed Director of Athletics, The Ohio State University
Bob Vecchione, Executive Director, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)

John Carroll launched the Sports Leadership Program in 2014. It is named in honor of Michael J. Cleary. Mr. Cleary was a 1956 John Carroll graduate who served as executive director of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) from the association’s founding in 1965 through 2011. Under his leadership, the association expanded from a 300-member organization to one with more than 6,500 athletic administrators in approximately 1,600 institutions and organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“I think that my fellow advisory council members all feel the best way to reciprocate the mentorship and professional assistance from my dad is by putting our names on a program that bears his name, so that it will never be forgotten and will benefit many generations to come,” said Owen Cleary, advisory council chair, and a 1992 John Carroll graduate.

“I think that my fellow advisory council members all feel the best way to reciprocate the mentorship and professional assistance from my dad is by putting our names on a program that bears his name, so that it will never be forgotten and will benefit many generations to come,” – Owen Cleary '92, advisory council chair