Carolyn O'Connell joined the UIC Athletics staff as the Assistant Director of Academic Services in November of 2015.

O'Connell comes to UIC after spending 30-plus years at Loyola University Chicago, where she most recently served as a Senior Associate Athletic Director and the school's Senior Woman Administrator since 1984. She also held the position of as the Ramblers' lead compliance officer as she oversaw student-athlete development.

In 2011 she was named the Division I Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA), and she has held dozens of leadership roles and served on numerous committees on campus, at the conference level and across the national landscape during her career in collegiate athletics.

"I am sincerely proud to be at UIC, and thrilled to be working closely with the Flames," said O'Connell. "I am most excited to be joining a great staff that contributes so much time and talent to enhancing the UIC experience for its students. They are our everyday champions!"

"To be able to add someone with Carolyn's experience allows us to continue to build a model of success for our student-athletes," said UIC head men's basketball coach Steve McClain. "She is a great addition to our program."

O'Connell, a former volleyball student-athlete at DePaul, also worked as an assistant women's basketball coach and head women's volleyball coach during her tenure in Rogers Park. She helped the Ramblers win 173 volleyball matches in five years as the head coach.

A 1974 graduate of DePaul, she received her bachelor's degree in education and earned a master's degree in administration and supervision from Loyola's School of Education.

O'Connell and her husband Ray reside in Evanston. The couple has two sons, Raymond and Peter.

Text Carolyn O'Connell Position: Assistant Director of Academic Services