Over 30 years have passed since Rhode Island College President John Nazarian, following an extensive nationwide search, announced the appointment of Rhode Island native Donald E. Tencher to the position of Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation.
In assuming his duties, Tencher would not have to travel far since the previous 15 years he had partnered with the legendary Vin Cullen in building one of the strongest and most successful junior college athletic programs in the country at the Community College of Rhode Island. Tencher was known at CCRI as a tireless worker with outstanding organizational skills. He had a knack for hiring great people and possessed a broad and extensive knowledge of intercollegiate athletics. Innovation and integrity were two attributes that had directed his professional life.
Three years prior to his arrival, the RIC athletic program was literally in ashes as a general alarm fire destroyed Walsh Gymnasium, the home of intercollegiate athletics. Tencher would be the third athletic director in three years and he made it clear that his goal was to build an intercollegiate athletic program that would be successful on all levels.
Tencher now oversees an intercollegiate athletic program that has come a long way from the one he inherited. The program that was once in a state of flux is now one of the most successful in the nation. Rhode Island College has consistently finished in the top 30 percent of the Learfield Sports Directors Cup standings among a field of 447 Division III institutions nationally.
During his tenure, Tencher has been a one-person show when it has come to fundraising and development initiatives for intercollegiate athletics. However, he is quick to point out that none of the department’s fundraising successes would have been possible without the support of the corporate community, the college administration, the intercollegiate athletics staff, and most importantly, generous friends and alumni. To date the department under Tencher’s direction has raised in excess of $10 million dollars which includes a very heft endowment.
The majority of the money being fundraised has been directed at facility renovation, student-athlete support and necessary third party funded positions. After completing a comprehensive facilities master plan, the varsity baseball, softball, tennis and track complexes underwent major renovations. A five-acre outdoor practice facility is now a reality and an outdoor competitive facility for soccer and lacrosse was completed in the fall of 2005 with seating to accommodate 2,000, a press box, restrooms, concessions and reception area. In 2007, an indoor hitting facility for softball and baseball was completed.
In September of 2012, Rhode Island College completed a $12 million renovation to its Recreation Center that included an intercollegiate athletics wing, which gave RIC students and student-athletes alike another state of the art facility in which to practice and compete.
Additionally, The Murray Center, which was completed 24 years ago at a cost in excess of $10 million, has undergone significant enhancements. A video room, pro-style locker rooms, new scoreboards and video board, an upgraded varsity weight room and stadium seating to name but a few. Under Tencher’s guidance an athletic booster club, the Anchor Club, was established. Also, a new “legacy walk” has been established that highlights the heritage as well as the accomplishments of the athletic program and the college. He also secured a major gift to name the baseball filed after legendary alum Art Pontarelli which has included a new indoor baseball hitting facility, giving baseball and softball their own facilities. As part of these new skill building facilities is the incorporation of schools that will not only teach local student-athletes proper skill techniques will serve as additional source of revenue as budgets continue to get tighter.
Although athletic success is an important goal in Tencher’s ongoing plan, the academic success of RIC’s more than 360 student-athletes was a priority from day one. During Tencher’s second year as athletic director programs were instituted for all student-athletes to insure that they are as successful in the classroom and in the community as they are in the athletic arena. In 2011 one of Don’s dreams came to fruition when the college opened a building specifically for student-athlete support, its new Student-Athlete Success Center. The center serves as a focal point for activities such as academic support, tutoring, study hall, community service, life skills and alcohol/drug awareness education programs. Academic success and retention of student-athletes continues to be a priority and a source of great pride.
Since his arrival, Tencher has created blueprints that will direct the intercollegiate athletic program for many years to come. In addition to a master plan for facilities, Tencher has created and implemented a strategic plan that involves every facet of the Department’s operation. The media relations area has been revamped with the result being upgraded media guides, a redesigned and more user-friendly website, completely computerized statistics, and the establishment of a web broadcasting network, “the Anchorman Network”, to broadcast with the highest quality all home athletic events. Professional marketing and brand imaging plans have been established including new logos and the licensing of all athletic products. Procedure and policy manuals for both students and staff have been constructed.
In addition to his responsibilities on campus, Tencher has been active professionally on the state, regional, and national levels. He has served as the Chair of the NCAA Wrestling Committee, served on the NCAA’s Initiative Grants Committee, and was appointed to one of the NCAA’s most influential sports committees, the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, where he was the liaison to men's and women's basketball and the committee chair.
He has been extremely active in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) where he was a member of its Board of Directors and recently completed two terms as the national secretary.
Previously, he has been a member of its Executive Committee, Chair of the Continuing Education Committee and a member of the games committee for both the Kick-Off and Pigskin Classic Football Games.
In 2017, 2014, 2010, 2006 and 2001, he was selected by NACDA as the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year. He has received the General Robert R. Neyland Lifetime Achievement Award from the All-American Football Foundation and was the recipient of the Frank Keaney Award from the International Institute for Sport.
In 2017 Don reached the pinnacle of his profession as he was selected by his peers to receive the James J. Corbett Memorial Award. The Corbett Award represents the highest honor anyone can achieve in collegiate athletics. Additionally, he received an honorary degree from the Sports Management Institute sponsored by NACDA and the Universities of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Southern California, Texas and Notre Dame.
He is a member of the Rhode Island Sports Council Board of Directors and was the driving force behind the successful Rhode Island Basketball Media Luncheons, which promoted men’s and women’s basketball. He is also a member of Rhode Island College Foundation's Board of Directors where the athletic department has holdings in excess of $2.1 million dollars.
In addition to his duties as Athletic Director, Tencher was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Administration in October of 2012, a position he held until 2017. His duties include providing oversight to the college’s campus police department, facilities and operations area and to all capital projects. He helped establish the annual “Speaker of the House’s” Awards program and provide oversight to this program honoring the state’s top public university student-athletes.
Under Tencher’s continued leadership the future looks bright. The endowment for intercollegiate athletics continues to grow, facilities continue to be enhanced and the success rate for all teams continues to increase.
He is a graduate of Barrington College where he lettered in basketball. He received a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island. Tencher, a native of West Warwick, RI, currently resides with his family in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Of all his successes Don is quick to note that his family, especially his children Paul, Grace and Matthew are truly his greatest blessing.
