帝王会所

After nearly 15 years of leadership by Jim Kahler, Executive in Residence Matt Cacciato to become the next executive director of OHIO鈥檚 world-renowned sports administration center.

Jim Kahler first came to 帝王会所 in 1980 as a graduate student in the still youthful Master of Sports Administration program. Little did he know that after a distinguished career in professional athletics, he would return to Athens nearly 25 years later to lead OHIO鈥檚 renowned Center for Sports Administration.

As executive director, Kahler was instrumental inmaintaining and enhancing the reputation of the graduate program, helping it earn its prestigious #1 ranking from SportBusiness Professional. And in May 2016, as the sports administration program celebrated its 50^th anniversary celebration, venue design and development firm AECOM named the Center for Sports Administration, providing funds to support student scholarships, travel, and projects.

鈥淗e came here to succeed, and he鈥檚 done just that,鈥� said Jim Strode, chair of the Department of Sports Administration. 鈥淗e used his skills and connections from the sport industry to push OHIO to the top.鈥� Strode added his appreciation and noted that 鈥渢he entire Bobcat family is grateful for Kahler鈥檚 continued service in the classroom as a full-time Executive in Residence and in a new role directing our growing executive education program in sports gambling awareness.鈥�

Kahler will be succeeded by Executive in Residence and Associate Professor of Instruction Matt Cacciato effective July 1.

Cacciato began teaching as an adjunct instructor in 2016 after 23 years in the cable sports television industry. He then accepted a full-time teaching role in the Department of Sports Administration and was named the director of OHIO鈥檚 top-ranked Master of Sports Administration program in 2018.

鈥淛im and Matt have collaborated on numerous center initiatives, so I鈥檓 confident that the transition and onboarding will go smoothly,鈥� said Strode. 鈥淢att is a proven winner with high level corporate success that translates well into the duties of the executive director position.鈥�

In addition to serving as Executive Director of the AECOM Center for Sports Administration, Cacciato will also continue in his role as program director for the MSA.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor for me to serve in these roles,鈥� Cacciato said. 鈥淥ur program has a long, storied history thanks to the leaders who have come before me. I鈥檓 excited to continue building on our strong foundation and creating even more amazing opportunities for the students in our undergraduate and graduate sports administration programs.鈥�