The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Plonsky honored as Kent State University distinguished alumnus
02.01.2007 | Texas Athletics
Chris Plonsky, director of women's athletics and men's & women's athletics external services, has been named Kent State University Athletics' Distinguished Alumnus for 2007.
Plonsky, along with eight Kent State varsity letterwinners and one former coach, will be recognized at the Ohio school's 29th annual Varsity "K" Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet at the Kent State Student Center on Feb. 2.
Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Greensburg, Pa., and northeast Ohio, Plonsky earned her B.S. degree in journalism from Kent State in 1979. She is a former editor of The Daily Kent Stater campus newspaper and was named KSU outstanding journalism graduate in 1979. She also lettered three years in basketball (1975-78) and served as team co-captain during her junior season.
Plonsky is in her 19th year at UT, her fifth year as women's athletics director, senior woman administrator, and director of men's and women's athletics external services. She directs UT's 11-sport women's athletics program. In addition, Plonsky supervises men's and women's athletics corporate sponsorship sales and fulfillment, as well as radio, television and Internet broadcasting. She also is the departments' liaison with UT's trademark and licensing director and supervises athletics marketing/promotions staff members.
Plonsky first came to UT in January 1982 and worked until July 1986 as women's sports information director. She spent seven years with The Big East Conference office in Providence, R.I., in public relations and assistant/associate commissioner capacities. She rejoined UT Athletics in October 1993 as associate AD for external services. Plonsky also worked as women's SID at Iowa State from 1979-81, and as an undergraduate at Kent State from 1976-79.
Plonsky served six years with the NCAA Division I Management Council. She chaired the group from January 2003 through April 2004. She also is a member of the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors, the Honda Broderick Award selection committee, the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletics Administrators, and, since 1996, the USA Basketball Executive Committee as vice president for women's programs.
She is a former member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Executive Committee. In 1999-2000, she was president of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA). In June 2003, she was inducted into the NACMA Hall of Fame.