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| Michael Allen |
 allen@cua.edu 202-319-5286 |
Dr. Mike Allen, in his sixth year as Catholic University’s
director of athletics, has led the Cardinal athletic department to
soaring heights of success. His performance was recognized by the
school administration with his spring 2009 promotion to associate
vice president. The stellar academic and athletic achievements by
CUA’s student-athletes have been hallmarks of his tenure.
Most recently, the 2010 Cardinal women’s lacrosse team
captured its third consecutive conference championship and advanced
to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Earlier in the
academic year, the 2009 CUA men’s and women’s soccer
teams won conference championships and qualified for the NCAA
Tournament. It was the first conference title and NCAA berth
for the men and second championship and NCAA appearance for the
women. This followed the baseball team earning conference
championships in 2008 and 2009, and the 2008 football team winning
the school’s first postseason game in 73 years. The CUA
men’s basketball team captured conference titles in 2006 and
2007 and qualified for two NCAA Tournaments, while the field
hockey, softball and men’s lacrosse teams have enjoyed
program-best victory totals.
One of Allen’s first major tasks at CUA was moving the
Cardinals athletic department into a new conference. So he and six
other athletic directors of like-minded educational and athletic
philosophies began discussions in the winter of 2005 to form a new
league. The Landmark Conference, with the support and guidance of
the presidents of each institution, began play in the fall of 2007
with eight members. The conference supports CUA’s academic
mission, provides competitive opportunities with similar schools
and has expanded the department’s recruiting base throughout
the Mid-Atlantic.
During his time at CUA, Allen has increased annual fund-raising
through a re-structured “Cardinal Club” campaign and
facilitated significant improvements to virtually every athletic
facility on campus. Enhancements include a FieldTurf playing
surface in Cardinal Stadium, a complete renovation of Talbot
Baseball Field, a new softball facility, a new Bermuda grass soccer
surface and a re-surfaced gym floor. A campaign to renovate the
interior of DuFour Center is underway.
Before CUA
Allen came to CUA after serving as associate athletic director for
student services at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton,
Fla., beginning in 2002. Prior to that, he worked for two years as
football program director for the Counseling Program of
Intercollegiate Athletes at the University of Connecticut. Allen
began his professional career in the same program in 1993, serving
in various roles supporting student-athletes and coaches.
Allen earned his Ph.D. in the sociology of sport during his time
at Connecticut. His doctoral research focused on how athletic team
communities bolster the intellectual development of intercollegiate
athletes. His master’s degree, also from Connecticut, is in
sport management.
While receiving his bachelor’s degree in sociology from
Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut Allen played four years of
basketball (1988-92) and served as co-captain in his senior year.
He finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in
three-pointers and was recognized as the ECAC outstanding scholar
athlete.
Allen and his wife, Beth, live in Silver Spring, Md., with their
daughter Maya, 6, and son James, 5.
