(1986) - For 32 years an educator, coach and administrator at Lowell State College and the University of Lowell, Dr. Jim Ciszek has stood behind the athletic successes at both schools more than any other single individual. From his early coaching days at LSC to the 27-sports program at ULowell, Dr. Ciszek has worked with unending dedication to promote the ideals and integrity of intercollegiate athletics. At Lowell State, his 1957-59 baseball teams won three straight New England Teachers College Athletic Conference championships losing only two games in three years. Dr. Ciszek coached the Indians baseball program until 1971 and also led the men's basketball team until 1966. On a few occasions during his 21 years at LSC, he coached the golf team as well.
With the merger of LSC and Lowell Technological Institute in 1975, Dr. Ciszek became ULowell's first Director of Athletics. For 11 years, he had overseen the unprecedented growth of the varsity athletics program. Since 1975, ULowell has moved from a non-scholarship NCAA Division III school to a scholarship granting Division II institution (1977). In addition, the hockey program became the school's first NCAA Division I representative in 1983.
Sports added to the varsity program included football, men's and women's crew, and women's cross country and track. Under Dr. Ciszek's leadership, the women's program grew from six to ten sports.
Not to go unnoticed are the support areas that were either created or enhanced under Dr. Ciszek's guidance. He was one of the prime movers behind the creation of the Athletic Hall of Fame, the Chiefs Club which is designed to raise scholarship monies, the expansion of the Sports Medicine staff to be one of the finest in the region, and the creation of the Sports Information Office. Also, the school added the Tully Forum to house the hockey team and the Ed Bellegarde Boathouse for the crew program during Ciszek's tenure.
Always striving to knock a few strokes off his 17-handicap golf game, Dr. Ciszek still supports UMass Lowell Athletics while participating annually in the River Hawk Golf Classic.
