HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John Czarnecki has accepted the Director of Athletics position at Hartwick College. Czarnecki’s last day at Hilbert will be July 10. A national search for his replacement will begin immediately.
“John came to Hilbert with the task of guiding and growing Hilbert’s athletics department,” Hilbert College President Cynthia Zane said. “His tenure has shown tremendous success both on and off the playing fields and courts, culminating with Hilbert’s first AMCC women’s basketball title and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. I have mixed emotions as I wish John success in his new opportunity, but we will also miss his talents here at Hilbert.”
Under Czarnecki’s guidance over the past five years, the athletics department has seen many significant accomplishments, including the women’s basketball team’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament after they won the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Title in February 2018. Under his leadership, the department established an agreement making Under Armour the official outfitter for all Hawk’s athletic teams.
The academic success of Hilbert’s student athletes remains a tremendous point of pride, as the student-athlete retention rate currently stands at 85%. Nearly all of Hilbert teams have participated in postseason tournaments during Czarnecki’s tenure.
Since Czarnecki took ownership of the Hilbert program, the athletics department has implemented numerous improvements, including a new internship program with the sports management department, the development of a student athlete code of conduct, and the addition of a full time strength and conditioning coach. He also served as the golf coach for the past two seasons. Additionally, Czarnecki oversaw the addition of bowling and men’s and women’s track at Hilbert.
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Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 900 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college’s engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship, and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. The Hilbert Blueprint promotes a well-rounded student experience over four years – starting with the Foundations Seminar in the freshman year, followed by Sophomore Service, Junior Symposium, and culminating with the Senior Capstone. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college’s first graduate programs and evening degree programs geared to adult learners.