RAM ATHLETIC FUND STAFF

GLEN HOFMANN, EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Email:gahofmann@vcu.edu
Phone: 804-828-FUND

Glenn Hofmann brings over 20 years of collegiate athletics experience into his first year as Executive Associate Athletic Director for External Relations at VCU.

Along with years of experience, he also brings a long relationship with Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin, after working together for three years at Niagara University.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to re-connect with Ed McLaughlin and join his staff at VCU,” Hofmann said. “There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of VCU Athletics and the larger university community, and I look forward to building upon the remarkable momentum that has transformed this institution into a national leader in athletics, academics and community impact."

Hofmann most recently spent three years as the Director of Athletics at Merrimack College. During his tenure at Merrimack, Hofmann completed a major renovation to Lawler Arena, increased fundraising by 27%, ticket sales by 243%, hockey attendance by 310%, had three teams win conference championships, seven teams qualify for NCAA Tournaments and raised the department’s grade point average to a 3.0, which was higher than that of the general student body.  Under Hofmann’s leadership, Merrimack’s NCAA Division I hockey team qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, and achieved a No. 1 ranking in 2011.

Prior to Merrimack, Hofmann served as associate athletics director, external affairs at Niagara, where he managed and mentored coaches, staff and students; generated new and increased revenue streams; and assisted in all facets of strategic planning, implementation, budgeting and personnel for their NCAA Division I program. A strong fundraiser, Hofmann developed and directed the athletic strategic fundraising plan that resulted in a ten percent increase in annual fundraising and a 21% increase in donors. Under Hofmann’s direction, the overall athletics department external revenue increased by 41% over a two-year period.

Hofmann also served as associate athletics director, external relations at Lehigh University from 1998 to 2005. Prior to that position, he served as assistant athletics director, communications and marketing; and sports information director at Lehigh.

Hofmann has a master of arts in sports management from East Stroudsburg University and a bachelor of arts in mass communications from St. Bonaventure University. He also successfully completed the NACDA Sports Management Institute program and served as an adjunct professor of sports management at Merrimack College, Niagara University and DeSales College.

Hofmann and his wife Sue reside in Richmond.

ANDREW HARTLEY, ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR MAJOR GIFTS
Email: aphartle@vcu.edu
Phone: 804-828-FUND

A native of Walworth, NY, Andrew Hartley graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1991 with a B.A. in Education with a minor in business & economics and a concentration in Sport Management. He continued his education receiving a masters degree in Sports Management from Virginia Tech in 1995, while being employed by the Virginia Tech Athletic Department.

Prior to coming to VCU in 1999, Hartley worked at the University of Maryland as the Assistant Director of Ticket Operations. He came to VCU as the Director of Ticket Operations and was involved in the opening of the Siegel Center and implemented the priority seating plan.

After five years managing the ticket office, he expanded his role and oversaw the annual fund for the Ram Athletic Fund and was actively involved in selling corporate sponsorships and the ticketing marketing plans for several VCU programs.

In his current role of Associate Athletic Director of Major Gifts, Hartley oversees all aspects of the development operation at VCU. He was instrumental in securing lead gifts for the $4 million club/suite projects for the Siegel Center as well as the $1.5 million basketball enhancement campaign. During his tenure with the Ram Athletic Fund, annual giving has risen from $600,000 to more than $2 million annually. In addition, membership in the Ram Athletic Fund has increased to over 3,000 members.

Hartley and his wife, Amy, live in Richmond’s Fan District with their two sons, Chase and Cole.

VICTOR PAUL CEGLES III, ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT
Email:

804-828-FUND

 In January of 2013, Vic Cegles was named Assistant Athletic Director for Development.  Previously, Cegles held the position of Director of the Ram Athletic Fund since the fall of 2010.  Cegles is responsible for raising funds to support the school’s athletic endeavors; the day-to-day operations of the Ram Athletic Fund, Young Alumni program, and the Student Ram Athletic Fund (Rowdy Rams).  Cegles is also responsible for improving the Ram Athletic Fund’s regional presence outside of the Greater Richmond area and will also assist in major gift fundraising. 

A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Vic Cegles got his start in the ticket office at VCU and was named Assistant Director of Ticketing and Development in 2009 where he focused on sponsorship sales, ticket operations, and athletic development. 

Prior to VCU, Cegles attended Rutgers University completing his degree in 2008 majoring in Exercise Science with a concentration in Sport Management while also lettering and playing second base for the Scarlet Knights.

After graduation, Cegles signed a free agent contract with the Washington Nationals and played a summer for the Gulf Coast Nationals. Vic comes from an Athletic Administration background, as his father, Vic Cegles, currently holds the position of Athletic Director at Long Beach State University. Cegles is pursuing his master’s degree at VCU’s Center for Sport Leadership. In addition, Cegles is also a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD).

DANNY O'BRIEN, RAM ATHLETIC FUND ASSOCIATE
Email: dobrien2@vcu.edu
Phone: 804-828-FUND

In December 2012 Daniel O'Brien joined the VCU Athletic department working for the Ram Athletic Fund. He was previously the Assistant Director of Athletics for Business Operations and Facilities at Niagara University. At Niagara, O’Brien was responsible for the day-to-day business operations of the athletic department including: overseeing the individual budgets of the 17 Purple Eagle athletic teams, monitoring travel, equipment and recruiting expenses and serving as liaison with the university’s business office.

O’Brien was the department’s liaison with Nike regarding all team and department purchases. In 2011 O’Brien oversaw Niagara’s exclusive contracts with Nike and Bauer Hockey with the official partnerships of AdPro Sports and Bauer. He also oversaw the athletic department’s university audit, as well as the NCAA audit of agreed-upon business procedures.

In his facilities role, O’Brien oversaw the daily operations and game setup of the legendary “Taps” Gallagher Center and Niagara Field.

Under O’Brien’s watch all coaches and staff were able to attend coaching and development conventions for the first time due to budget implementation’s made by O’Brien. For the first time in school history Niagara University provided student-athletes with general issue apparel and all 17 sports saw a 75% increase in team and coaching equipment and apparel.

O’Brien spent 2008-09 as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Niagara Men’s Basketball team. The Purple Eagles finished the year with a 26-9 record and advanced to the National Invitational Tournament, where they received a first round home game.

A native of Washington, D.C. O’Brien graduated from Niagara University with a degree in Sports Management in 2008 where he was the head men’s basketball manager for four years. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree at VCU’s Center for Sport Leadership. In addition, O’Brien is also a member of the College Athletic Business Management Association (CABMA) and the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD).

 ABBY BERGAKKER, DIRECTOR OF STEWARDSHIP, GIFT PROCESSING AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Email: bergakkerar@vcu.edu
Phone: 804-828-FUND

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Abby Bergakker first came to VCU in 2011 as a graduate student in VCU's Center for Sports Leadership. While working on her graduate degree, she also worked in the athletic department as a graduate assistant with the ticket office. In this role, Bergakker managed the ticket office for Olympic sports and assisted with ticket office operations. 

Bergakker completed her Masters of Education in Sports Leadership in 2012, and a few months later was hired into her new role as Director of Stewardship, Gift Processing and Special Events. In this new role, Bergakker is responsible for coordinating all gift processing and managing special events and donor relations for the athletic department. She works closely with the development staff to ensure that all Ram Athletic Fund needs are met.

Before coming to VCU, Bergakker attended Messiah College near Harrisburg, Pa. While there,  she garnered several awards as a four-year starter for the softball team and helped lead the Falcons to the 2009 NCAA Division III Softball National Championship. Bergakker was founding of the Messiah College Sport Management Society, and served as secretary from 2008-10. She graduated from Messiah with a degree in Sports Management in 2010.

MIKE PAULUS, GRADUATE ASSISTANT, RAM ATHLETIC FUND
EMAIL: paulusmj@vcu.edu
PHONE:804-828-FUND

A native of Syracuse, New York, Michael Paulus began his college career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he participated as a member of the Tar Heels football team from 2007 to 2009. In the spring of 2010 Paulus transferred to the College of William & Mary where he graduated with a degree in Kinesiology, while also minoring in Business. During his tenure at William & Mary, Paulus lettered on the football team where he played quarterback and helped lead the Tribe to the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association championship, while also garnering Academic All-Conference team honors. Paulus is currently working as a graduate assistant in Development in the VCU Athletic Department where he hopes to pursue a career in sport administration at the collegiate or professional level upon graduation from the Center for Sport Leadership.