Michael Zapolski is in the midst of his fifth year as the Director of Athletics at Anderson University. Zapolski began his current assignment in July of 2003 after working 20 years in various capacities at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
Zapolski is responsible for the daily management and oversight of the University's 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program and serves as building manager for the $17 million Kardatzke Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility that opened in October of 2002.
Anderson University competes at the NCAA Division III level and is a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC). Zapolski's primary duties include budget and financial planning, compliance, event and facilities management, fund-raising, staff evaluation and strategic planning. He has focused on improving cross-campus relationships and hired new head coaches for men's basketball, men's and women's cross country and track, softball, men's tennis and women's volleyball during his four-year tenure.
Characterized as a dynamic, energetic and innovative leader, Zapolski has established a sound professional record that emphasizes a strong commitment to the development of the total student-athlete, with an emphasis on academic excellence, spiritual mentoring, social growth and athletic success.
Anderson claimed its first-ever Commissioner’s Cup at the conclusion of the 2006-07 academic year, an award presented to the conference school that compiles the most combined overall All-Sports points. The men’s and women’s programs were fourth and second, respectively, in their All-Sports trophy competitions. Anderson claimed conference championships in men’s and women’s cross country and track, while the softball program advanced to the NCAA Championships. A comprehensive Outdoor Facilities Master Plan—which includes a significant renovation of the baseball, football, soccer, softball and track venues—was adopted and integrated into the University’s current capital campaign.
Zapolski completed the first of a four-year term on the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Committee, and spearheaded the University’s role as co-host of the 2007 NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships.
Anderson finished second in both the men's and women's HCAC All-Sports Trophy competitions during the 2005-06 school year, and the Ravens captured conference championships in men's and women's cross country and track. The men's cross country team placed No. 17 at the 2005 NCAA Championships. A multi-purpose lockerroom space was created for the baseball, football, men's soccer and men's track programs in the previous East Gym, and an early registration policy was approved for student-athletes to minimize missed class time.
The Ravens claimed the men's All-Sports Trophy in 2004-05 and finished third in the women's competition after claiming conference championships in men's and women's cross country and track plus men's soccer. Sean Thompson was recognized as the University's first-ever NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship recipient. A significant upgrade was completed at the baseball facility with the construction of two, 60-foot dugouts.
One of Zapolski's first duties upon arriving at Anderson was the implementation of a new athletics logo for branding purposes. He helped oversee the completion of an outdoor football practice field space and a significant renovation of O.C. Lewis Gymnasium highlighted by the installation of new bleacher seating and scoreboards. A 25-event internet broadcast package was launched during the 2004 baseball season that has expanded to include nearly 100 broadcasts in eight sports. Anderson finished second in both the men's and women's HCAC All-Sports Trophy competitions and captured conference championships in men's cross country, women's cross country and men's track.
Born and raised in Wheaton, Illinois, Zapolski began his professional intercollegiate athletics career in October of 1983 when he was hired as the full-time Sports Information Director at Pepperdine. Zapolski worked at Pepperdine for 20 years, holding additional titles of Assistant Athletics Director (1999-2001) and Associate Athletics Director (2001-03).
In his role as Associate Athletics Director, Zapolski aided the Director of Athletics in the daily operation of the department. He supervised the men's golf, women's golf, women's soccer and men's tennis programs and had oversight of the Athletic Training, Facilities, Marketing and Sports Information staffs. Additionally, Zapolski served as the webmaster for the University's comprehensive athletics website, supervised game management operations and coordinated event contracts and scheduling, particularly for men's and women's basketball.
Zapolski's myriad of public relations-related duties included negotiating the department's radio, television and internet streaming contracts. He served as Media Coordinator at the 1995 and 2000 NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships, and in a similar capacity at the 2000 NCAA Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championships.
A native of Boulder City, Nevada, Zapolski earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Pepperdine in 1985, graduating magna cum laude. While making the transition to an administrative role, Zapolski earned a master's of business administration degree from Pepperdine in 2000.
Zapolski and his wife, Stacey, a former elementary school teacher who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at Pepperdine, reside in Anderson with their daughter, Haley, and two sons, Luke and Noah. Zapolski is an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and serves on the Board of the Anderson Noon Rotary Club.
