Departure of Michael Izzi

Michael Izzi has informed me that he has accepted an offer from California State University, Northridge to be its director of athletics, effective July 23.

In the decade since Mike became our director of intercollegiate athletics, UCI has had one of the nation’s top mid-major programs, with our teams competing at a very high level and earning us acclaim for their success and comportment. Under Mike’s leadership, UCI Athletics has also dramatically increased fundraising and added the Santora Elite Training Center and the Al Irwin Academic Center for our student-athletes’ benefit. In addition, Mike helped develop the Exercise Medicine & Sport Sciences Initiative and played an important role in bringing the Los Angeles Rams’ training camp to campus.

I have appointed Paula Smith, deputy athletic director since 2012, interim director while we conduct a national search for our next director of intercollegiate athletics.

Please join me in wishing Mike Izzi well as he assumes his new responsibilities.

Chancellor Howard Gillman