Demorest, GA – Piedmont College Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John Dzik has announced that he will be stepping down from his position effective June 30, 2015. Dzik originally came to Piedmont in April of 2005 as the college was moving from affiliation in the NAIA to membership in Division III of the NCAA.
Under Dzik’s leadership, the athletic department has grown from 195 athletes in 11 programs to the current configuration of over 300 student athletes on 15 athletic teams. Additionally, Piedmont, a charter member of the Great South Athletic Conference changed affiliation in 2011 to the USA South Athletic Conference providing all athletic teams greater opportunity for expanded conference scheduling and NCAA post season automatic qualification.
During Dzik’s time as Athletic Director, Piedmont has won 22 conference championships and appeared in 14 NCAA national championship tournaments. Piedmont currently houses the USA South President’s Cup trophy for women’s athletics, emblematic of the best overall women’s athletic program of the 13 USA South member institutions.
Facility improvements completed during his time as AD include: a new artificial turf field, new fencing for both baseball and softball areas, new scoreboards for all venues, and a renovation/redesign of the Johnny Mize Athletic Center adding locker rooms, expanded athletic training room space, coaches offices, GA office space and conference area.
The area of athletic communications has been upgraded to include a new athletic website, a branding initiative for the department, live stat and video broadcasts of home events and a radio partnership with WCON. Expanded resources for each team allow for safe travel on charter buses, sufficient funding for lodging and meals while traveling and appropriate financial support to outfit and equip teams.
During Dzik’s tenure as AD, Piedmont student-athletes have consistently achieved and been recognized for their academic excellence. The aggregate GPA for all teams has exceeded 3.00 in every semester he has served as the director. With 189 USA South Academic All Conference honorees in 2013-14, 7 Capital One Academic All Americans since 2011, and several NCAA post graduate scholarship recipients, Piedmont student athletes have demonstrated their prowess in the classroom during his time with the institution.
Dzik’s career in collegiate athletic administration spans 35 years at two institutions, Piedmont College and Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania. At both institutions he oversaw the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III. Additionally, he moved both schools into new conferences to enhance playing opportunities for student athletes. For 25 years he coached men’s basketball at Cabrini, and his Cavaliers program ranked as one of the winningest in the nation.
When asked to comment on his time at Piedmont, Dzik said, “I have really enjoyed being the Director of Athletics at Piedmont. I want to thank both past president Ray Cleere and current president James Mellichamp for their support and commitment to the athletic program at Piedmont. My two supervisors, Tom Bowen and John Misner are two of the finest administrators I have encountered in my 35 year career in college athletics and the coaching staff at Piedmont is one of the most dedicated and competent in all of Division III. Most importantly, the wonderful group of student-athletes I have watched represent Piedmont have brought great joy to my life. ”
Dzik and his wife of 42 years, Suzanne, will relocate to their permanent home in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
