University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mikey Reeves
Rawak Selected to Delaware Online/The News Journal Hall of Fame Class of 2024; Carty Earns Yearly Honor
3/7/2024 11:00:00 AM | Football, Delaware Athletics
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak has been selected to the Delaware Online/The News Journal Hall of Fame Class of 2024, the publication announced Tuesday.
Each year in the quest to create the newspaper's "Most Influential" lists, Delaware Online/The News Journal staff identify who's who in the state — people who go above and beyond as community leaders, as health care workers, as those who step up and have a big influence on education, arts and entertainment, law and more.
Delaware has no shortage of incredible residents to choose from, as evidenced by this year's expansive project. Yet year after year, certain leaders who were already recognized in the past continue to have a tangible impact on the state.
"I am incredibly grateful and appreciative for this recognition," Rawak said. "The University of Delaware is a special place that has an immense impact on the State of Delaware. Being able to play a role in how we positively impact our students, our university and 302 community is something I am proud of and certainly do not take for granted."
Serving in her current role since June of 2016, Rawak has been named one of the state's most influential people in all four years since Delaware Online/The News Journal started the annual recognition.
In November of 2023, Rawak led the University's efforts to embark on its newest era with the announcement of joining Conference USA and moving to the football subdivision in 2025. At the same time, UD announced the addition of women's ice hockey as its 22nd varsity program, also coming in 2025.
Academically, Blue Hen student-athletes have excelled in the classroom. They've posted 20-straight semesters of a 3.0 GPA or higher, with the most recent semester at 3.3.
There has been no shortage of success on the playing surface under Rawak's direction. Field Hockey won the 2016 NCAA National Championship, while the spirit programs have won an abundance of national titles across multiple disciplines. In CAA play, the Hens have garnered 27 CAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships across 10 different programs and 20 individual CAA Championships.
In 2021-22, Delaware finished 104th out of 350 schools in the Learfield Directors Cup standings, the highest in the CAA and our second highest finish since 1998.
With an emphasis on the 302 community, Rawak has expanded UD's engagement in the State of Delaware. She's made it a priority to be engaged with members of the Delaware Chamber of Commerce and the Kent and Sussex Leadership Alliance. The Hens have also hosted multiple Blue Hen Business Forums to engage with local businesses.
Highlighted by the construction of the Whitney Athletic Center, Rawak transformed the student-athlete experience at UD. The Whitney Athletic Center is a 90,000 square foot facility that houses all sport performance and student-athlete success functions supporting all 650+ of our student-athletes.
One of her most notable hires since arriving in Newark was Head Football Coach Ryan Carty. Carty, who received his third-straight recognition by Delaware Online/The News Journal as one of Delaware's most influential sports people this year, just completed his second season at the helm of the program.
Hired as University of Delaware football coach in December of 2021, Carty has guided the Blue Hens to two NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff berths, its first in back-to-back seasons since Carty was back-up quarterback in '03 and '04. Delaware's 9-4 2023 team was its winningest in 13 years. Carty now leads the Blue Hens in its final season of FCS play in 2024 and into the Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA in 2025.
Each year in the quest to create the newspaper's "Most Influential" lists, Delaware Online/The News Journal staff identify who's who in the state — people who go above and beyond as community leaders, as health care workers, as those who step up and have a big influence on education, arts and entertainment, law and more.
Delaware has no shortage of incredible residents to choose from, as evidenced by this year's expansive project. Yet year after year, certain leaders who were already recognized in the past continue to have a tangible impact on the state.
"I am incredibly grateful and appreciative for this recognition," Rawak said. "The University of Delaware is a special place that has an immense impact on the State of Delaware. Being able to play a role in how we positively impact our students, our university and 302 community is something I am proud of and certainly do not take for granted."
Serving in her current role since June of 2016, Rawak has been named one of the state's most influential people in all four years since Delaware Online/The News Journal started the annual recognition.
In November of 2023, Rawak led the University's efforts to embark on its newest era with the announcement of joining Conference USA and moving to the football subdivision in 2025. At the same time, UD announced the addition of women's ice hockey as its 22nd varsity program, also coming in 2025.
Academically, Blue Hen student-athletes have excelled in the classroom. They've posted 20-straight semesters of a 3.0 GPA or higher, with the most recent semester at 3.3.
There has been no shortage of success on the playing surface under Rawak's direction. Field Hockey won the 2016 NCAA National Championship, while the spirit programs have won an abundance of national titles across multiple disciplines. In CAA play, the Hens have garnered 27 CAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships across 10 different programs and 20 individual CAA Championships.
In 2021-22, Delaware finished 104th out of 350 schools in the Learfield Directors Cup standings, the highest in the CAA and our second highest finish since 1998.
With an emphasis on the 302 community, Rawak has expanded UD's engagement in the State of Delaware. She's made it a priority to be engaged with members of the Delaware Chamber of Commerce and the Kent and Sussex Leadership Alliance. The Hens have also hosted multiple Blue Hen Business Forums to engage with local businesses.
Highlighted by the construction of the Whitney Athletic Center, Rawak transformed the student-athlete experience at UD. The Whitney Athletic Center is a 90,000 square foot facility that houses all sport performance and student-athlete success functions supporting all 650+ of our student-athletes.
One of her most notable hires since arriving in Newark was Head Football Coach Ryan Carty. Carty, who received his third-straight recognition by Delaware Online/The News Journal as one of Delaware's most influential sports people this year, just completed his second season at the helm of the program.
Hired as University of Delaware football coach in December of 2021, Carty has guided the Blue Hens to two NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff berths, its first in back-to-back seasons since Carty was back-up quarterback in '03 and '04. Delaware's 9-4 2023 team was its winningest in 13 years. Carty now leads the Blue Hens in its final season of FCS play in 2024 and into the Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA in 2025.
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