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Jacki Silar
Photo by: Tim Cowie/Tim Cowie Photography
Silar Announces Retirement from Duke Athletics
12/12/2019 3:00:00 PM | Athletics
DURHAM, N.C. – Following four decades of exemplary service as both a coach and administrator at Duke University, Jacki Silar will retire from her position as Senior Associate Director of Athletics on June 30, 2020.
"I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Duke University, specifically, the athletics department," said Silar. "Each day, I strived for excellence for our student-athletes both in the classroom and on the playing field. I loved supporting and working with the best of the best – our student-athletes, coaches and staff.
"I want to thank Duke University, former head women's basketball coach Debbie Leonard, who hired me to be her assistant coach to start my career here, as well as the three athletic directors with whom I had the privilege of working with – Tom Butters, Joe Alleva and Kevin White. Duke University will always have a special place in my heart and I look forward to cheering on the Blue Devils. Go Duke!"
Silar is the lone Senior Woman Administrator in Duke Athletics history, holding the post since its inception in 1995.
"To be sure, no one has represented the welfare of Duke University's student-athletes, coaches and staff in a more profound and supportive manner than Jacki Silar," said White. "In addition to being a pioneer in women's college athletics administration, her name is synonymous with excellence in leadership. Jacki has been a cornerstone of success within Duke Athletics and will be greatly missed, but we commend her on an exceptional career and wish her well in retirement."
Upon her arrival at Duke on September 1, 1979, Silar served as an assistant women's basketball coach for 14 seasons alongside Leonard. Silar helped the Blue Devils to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 1987 and, one season later, mentored the program's first All-America selection, Chris Moreland.
Silar also spent 15 seasons (1981-95) as Duke's head field hockey coach. She earned ACC Coach of the Year honors twice (1990 & 1992), led the Blue Devils to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance (1992) and continues to be the program's all-time leader in coaching victories (162).
Following her transition into athletics administration, Silar served Duke, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA in a variety of capacities, most notably as the primary sport supervisor for many Blue Devil programs. Most recently, she has spearheaded Duke's student-athlete development division along with leadership programming.
In addition to working alongside Butters, Alleva and White, she served in an administrative capacity with 24 head coaches: Clar Anderson (wrestling), Jamie Ashworth (women's tennis), Alex Beguinet (fencing), Beth Bozman (field hockey), Dan Brooks (women's golf), Pam Bustin (field hockey), Dan Colella (swimming & diving), Gail Goestenkors (women's basketball), Lindy Grensing (volleyball), Bill Hempen (women's soccer), Robyn Horner (rowing), Jody Hyden (women's tennis), Kevin Jermyn (women's cross country), Kerstin Kimel (women's lacrosse), Jay Lapidus (men's tennis), Debbie Leonard (women's basketball), Geoff Macdonald (women's tennis), Joanne P. McCallie (women's basketball), Jolene Nagel (volleyball), Jan Oglivie (track & field), Norm Oglivie (track & field), Liz Tchou (field hockey), Bob Thompson (swimming & diving) and Jon Wilson (volleyball).
As an administrator, Silar has been a part of eight NCAA championship teams with the women's golf (1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 & 2019) and women's tennis (2009) programs.
Silar's vast service on conference and national committees is headlined by stints on the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Committee and the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee. She served as the Chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee in 2008-09.
In addition to her athletics department duties, Silar has worked as an academic advisor for first year and sophomore students, taught in the department of Physical Education and served Duke on a variety of committees including the Harassment Grievance Board, Equity Committee, President's Commission on the Status of Women, Campus Culture Initiative Steering Committee and Sexual Misconduct Task Force.
A native of Pottstown, Pa., Silar played both basketball and field hockey at High Point College before graduating in 1974. She went on to earn a master's degree in education from the University of North Carolina, where she was an assistant field hockey coach.
"I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Duke University, specifically, the athletics department," said Silar. "Each day, I strived for excellence for our student-athletes both in the classroom and on the playing field. I loved supporting and working with the best of the best – our student-athletes, coaches and staff.
"I want to thank Duke University, former head women's basketball coach Debbie Leonard, who hired me to be her assistant coach to start my career here, as well as the three athletic directors with whom I had the privilege of working with – Tom Butters, Joe Alleva and Kevin White. Duke University will always have a special place in my heart and I look forward to cheering on the Blue Devils. Go Duke!"
Silar is the lone Senior Woman Administrator in Duke Athletics history, holding the post since its inception in 1995.
"To be sure, no one has represented the welfare of Duke University's student-athletes, coaches and staff in a more profound and supportive manner than Jacki Silar," said White. "In addition to being a pioneer in women's college athletics administration, her name is synonymous with excellence in leadership. Jacki has been a cornerstone of success within Duke Athletics and will be greatly missed, but we commend her on an exceptional career and wish her well in retirement."
Upon her arrival at Duke on September 1, 1979, Silar served as an assistant women's basketball coach for 14 seasons alongside Leonard. Silar helped the Blue Devils to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 1987 and, one season later, mentored the program's first All-America selection, Chris Moreland.
Silar also spent 15 seasons (1981-95) as Duke's head field hockey coach. She earned ACC Coach of the Year honors twice (1990 & 1992), led the Blue Devils to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance (1992) and continues to be the program's all-time leader in coaching victories (162).
Following her transition into athletics administration, Silar served Duke, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA in a variety of capacities, most notably as the primary sport supervisor for many Blue Devil programs. Most recently, she has spearheaded Duke's student-athlete development division along with leadership programming.
In addition to working alongside Butters, Alleva and White, she served in an administrative capacity with 24 head coaches: Clar Anderson (wrestling), Jamie Ashworth (women's tennis), Alex Beguinet (fencing), Beth Bozman (field hockey), Dan Brooks (women's golf), Pam Bustin (field hockey), Dan Colella (swimming & diving), Gail Goestenkors (women's basketball), Lindy Grensing (volleyball), Bill Hempen (women's soccer), Robyn Horner (rowing), Jody Hyden (women's tennis), Kevin Jermyn (women's cross country), Kerstin Kimel (women's lacrosse), Jay Lapidus (men's tennis), Debbie Leonard (women's basketball), Geoff Macdonald (women's tennis), Joanne P. McCallie (women's basketball), Jolene Nagel (volleyball), Jan Oglivie (track & field), Norm Oglivie (track & field), Liz Tchou (field hockey), Bob Thompson (swimming & diving) and Jon Wilson (volleyball).
As an administrator, Silar has been a part of eight NCAA championship teams with the women's golf (1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 & 2019) and women's tennis (2009) programs.
Silar's vast service on conference and national committees is headlined by stints on the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Committee and the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee. She served as the Chair of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee in 2008-09.
In addition to her athletics department duties, Silar has worked as an academic advisor for first year and sophomore students, taught in the department of Physical Education and served Duke on a variety of committees including the Harassment Grievance Board, Equity Committee, President's Commission on the Status of Women, Campus Culture Initiative Steering Committee and Sexual Misconduct Task Force.
A native of Pottstown, Pa., Silar played both basketball and field hockey at High Point College before graduating in 1974. She went on to earn a master's degree in education from the University of North Carolina, where she was an assistant field hockey coach.
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