Oberlin College Organization Profile
OMission:
“The Department of Athletics and Physical Education is inseparable from the educational mission of Oberlin College. The department will endeavor to instill in our athletes, student body, and other stakeholders the joy, power, and extraordinary personal growth that come to those who pursue athletic excellence, physical fitness, and overall wellness. The department is committed to the personal development and well-being of the student body and college community. The individuals who participate in our programs at all levels can learn the benefits of teamwork, discipline, goal-setting, physical fitness, character development, self-confidence, and the joy of achievement. We are committed to offering a competitive and recreational environment that fosters these personal attributes. Therefore, it will be the purpose of the Department of Athletics and Physical Education to improve significantly its performance within this philosophical framework in order to strengthen the leadership position that Oberlin College has occupied among American educational institutions since its inception.”
Oberlin College Heisman Club:
We believe that Oberlin should: (1) provide an opportunity for athletes to pursue excellence in their sports along with their academic studies, (2) provide a physical education and wellness program for all Oberlin students, regardless of their ability, and (3) compete successfully with other schools in recruiting superior students for whom athletics or physical education are an important part of their lives. We realize that, at Oberlin, athletics will always play a complementary role to academics. At the same time, we know that athletics can have a profound and lasting impact on our students, particularly those who strive for excellence in their sports and balance in their lives.
The Heisman Club's mission is to help Oberlin achieve these goals by:
**Funding projects that support the athletics program in ways that are not covered by the athletics department's normal budget.
**Encouraging members of the Heisman Club actively to support the Club and, through the Club, athletics at Oberlin.
**Enhancing the stature of athletes at Oberlin by providing recognition for their accomplishments.
Heisman Club History:
John William Heisman (1869-1936) was the first professional football coach at Oberlin College. In 1892, he led the Yeomen football team to a perfect 7-0 record. In those days of high-powered football, the '92 Oberlin grid squad defeated both Ohio State and Michigan and was ranked with Minnesota and Purdue as one of the three best teams west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Nearly a century later, Oberlin alumni and friends honored Heisman's memory by forming the John William Heisman Club. Created in 1978, its objective was to strengthen the entire intercollegiate athletics program. Almost one-quarter of a million dollars was raised over three years, with the initial emphasis directed at stabilizing the football program.
Through generous contributions, the members of the Heisman Club have endowed the football program for 10 years and supported the athletics program in general by endowing two coaching positions, one for a women's and one for a men's intercollegiate sport, for three years each. These positions have continued since 1981 with general college funding.
In 1985, Heisman Club members voted to transfer responsibility for the Club and its activities from the Development Office to the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, shifting its focus from just fund raising to include a wider range of services. The Heisman Club is now a permanent organization of alumni and friends interested in supporting athletics in the Oberlin tradition.
Leadership:
Administration
Natalie Winkelfoos- Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education
Creg Jantz- Senior Associate Director of Athletics
Eric Lahetta- Associate Director of Athletics for Intercollegiate Sports
Mike Mancini- Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications
Betsy Bruce- Director of Recreation & Club Sports
Jason Hudson- Director of Wellness & Student-Athlete Services
Kyle Youngblood- Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
Brian Ambrose- Assistant Volleyball Coach / Creative Director of Multimedia Services
Facilities
“The Department of Athletics and Physical Education is inseparable from the educational mission of Oberlin College. The department will endeavor to instill in our athletes, student body, and other stakeholders the joy, power, and extraordinary personal growth that come to those who pursue athletic excellence, physical fitness, and overall wellness. The department is committed to the personal development and well-being of the student body and college community. The individuals who participate in our programs at all levels can learn the benefits of teamwork, discipline, goal-setting, physical fitness, character development, self-confidence, and the joy of achievement. We are committed to offering a competitive and recreational environment that fosters these personal attributes. Therefore, it will be the purpose of the Department of Athletics and Physical Education to improve significantly its performance within this philosophical framework in order to strengthen the leadership position that Oberlin College has occupied among American educational institutions since its inception.”
Oberlin College Heisman Club:
We believe that Oberlin should: (1) provide an opportunity for athletes to pursue excellence in their sports along with their academic studies, (2) provide a physical education and wellness program for all Oberlin students, regardless of their ability, and (3) compete successfully with other schools in recruiting superior students for whom athletics or physical education are an important part of their lives. We realize that, at Oberlin, athletics will always play a complementary role to academics. At the same time, we know that athletics can have a profound and lasting impact on our students, particularly those who strive for excellence in their sports and balance in their lives.
The Heisman Club's mission is to help Oberlin achieve these goals by:
**Funding projects that support the athletics program in ways that are not covered by the athletics department's normal budget.
**Encouraging members of the Heisman Club actively to support the Club and, through the Club, athletics at Oberlin.
**Enhancing the stature of athletes at Oberlin by providing recognition for their accomplishments.
Heisman Club History:
John William Heisman (1869-1936) was the first professional football coach at Oberlin College. In 1892, he led the Yeomen football team to a perfect 7-0 record. In those days of high-powered football, the '92 Oberlin grid squad defeated both Ohio State and Michigan and was ranked with Minnesota and Purdue as one of the three best teams west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Nearly a century later, Oberlin alumni and friends honored Heisman's memory by forming the John William Heisman Club. Created in 1978, its objective was to strengthen the entire intercollegiate athletics program. Almost one-quarter of a million dollars was raised over three years, with the initial emphasis directed at stabilizing the football program.
Through generous contributions, the members of the Heisman Club have endowed the football program for 10 years and supported the athletics program in general by endowing two coaching positions, one for a women's and one for a men's intercollegiate sport, for three years each. These positions have continued since 1981 with general college funding.
In 1985, Heisman Club members voted to transfer responsibility for the Club and its activities from the Development Office to the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, shifting its focus from just fund raising to include a wider range of services. The Heisman Club is now a permanent organization of alumni and friends interested in supporting athletics in the Oberlin tradition.
Leadership:
Administration
Natalie Winkelfoos- Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education
Creg Jantz- Senior Associate Director of Athletics
Eric Lahetta- Associate Director of Athletics for Intercollegiate Sports
Mike Mancini- Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications
Betsy Bruce- Director of Recreation & Club Sports
Jason Hudson- Director of Wellness & Student-Athlete Services
Kyle Youngblood- Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
Brian Ambrose- Assistant Volleyball Coach / Creative Director of Multimedia Services
Facilities
Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex
Dill Field
Main Gym
Williams Field House
Mentor
Creg Jantz was named Oberlin College’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics in April 2013. Jantz is involved in all of the athletic department’s day-to-day operations while also serving as sports supervisor for men's and women's soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse and baseball. He also supervises the strength and conditioning program and the sports information office.
With over 20 years of administration experience at the collegiate, interscholastic and professional level, Jantz is also charged with cultivating relationships with Oberlin’s alumni base and overseeing the John W. Heisman Club, which is the athletics department’s main fundraising arm. Additionally, he oversees the community relations and marketing efforts for the department.
In June of 2014, Jantz began overseeing the department’s athletic and recreation facilities, facility staffing and maintenance. He also started managing all capital and facility improvement projects. Jantz was the department’s project manager the last four months of the 12-million dollar Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex construction and is currently managing the 15-million dollar Health & Wellness Center project for the department.
Prior to Oberlin, Jantz served in the role of Director of Athletics at his alma mater of OHSAA Division I Midview High School (Middies) for three years. Before his stop at Midview, Jantz worked as the assistant athletics director and sports information director at NCAA Division III Case Western Reserve University for 12 years.
During his tenure leading the Middies Athletics Department, Jantz led a campaign that raised $740,000 that went towards the renovation of its multi use outdoor stadium with field turf. He was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the district’s 19 interscholastic athletic programs (grades 7-12), which included budgeting, scheduling and hiring and evaluating coaches.
While at Case, as part of the senior staff of the athletics department, Jantz helped bring in over $50,000 annually through his fundraising and marketing efforts. He led searches for both coaches and staff as well as served as an event administrator. Jantz also created and disseminated news releases on all 19 varsity sports teams at Case and was responsible for the maintaining the department’s athletics website.
A former collegiate athlete at NCAA Division II Ashland University, Jantz began his professional career in sports in 1993 with Mark Termini Associates Inc, a Cleveland based agency that represents professional athletes. In 1995, he joined the Cleveland Crunch of the National Professional Soccer League, where he served as the team’s director of public and media relations.
Jantz graduated from Ashland in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in sports communication. He resides in Avon Lake, Ohio with his wife Anita and two sons, Aidan and Aneil.
With over 20 years of administration experience at the collegiate, interscholastic and professional level, Jantz is also charged with cultivating relationships with Oberlin’s alumni base and overseeing the John W. Heisman Club, which is the athletics department’s main fundraising arm. Additionally, he oversees the community relations and marketing efforts for the department.
In June of 2014, Jantz began overseeing the department’s athletic and recreation facilities, facility staffing and maintenance. He also started managing all capital and facility improvement projects. Jantz was the department’s project manager the last four months of the 12-million dollar Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex construction and is currently managing the 15-million dollar Health & Wellness Center project for the department.
Prior to Oberlin, Jantz served in the role of Director of Athletics at his alma mater of OHSAA Division I Midview High School (Middies) for three years. Before his stop at Midview, Jantz worked as the assistant athletics director and sports information director at NCAA Division III Case Western Reserve University for 12 years.
During his tenure leading the Middies Athletics Department, Jantz led a campaign that raised $740,000 that went towards the renovation of its multi use outdoor stadium with field turf. He was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the district’s 19 interscholastic athletic programs (grades 7-12), which included budgeting, scheduling and hiring and evaluating coaches.
While at Case, as part of the senior staff of the athletics department, Jantz helped bring in over $50,000 annually through his fundraising and marketing efforts. He led searches for both coaches and staff as well as served as an event administrator. Jantz also created and disseminated news releases on all 19 varsity sports teams at Case and was responsible for the maintaining the department’s athletics website.
A former collegiate athlete at NCAA Division II Ashland University, Jantz began his professional career in sports in 1993 with Mark Termini Associates Inc, a Cleveland based agency that represents professional athletes. In 1995, he joined the Cleveland Crunch of the National Professional Soccer League, where he served as the team’s director of public and media relations.
Jantz graduated from Ashland in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in sports communication. He resides in Avon Lake, Ohio with his wife Anita and two sons, Aidan and Aneil.