Jeff Schemmel - Athletics Director
Jeff Schemmel, who brings a wealth of experience, a history of success and new expectations to Montezuma Mesa, was introduced as San Diego State's Director of Athletics on July 6, 2005.
Schemmel immediately became one of the most accomplished sitting athletic directors in the country. He is a former practicing attorney, has directed a Final Four, served as a senior administrator at Big 10 and Big 12 schools, and played a part in what might be the biggest football turnaround in the history of college athletics.
Schemmel arrived at San Diego State from Conference USA, where he had served as associate commissioner for governance and legal affairs since October of 2004. During his stay in Dallas, he helped the league negotiate television contracts with ESPN and College Sports Television that exceeded more than $100 million in revenue, and he served as a member of the NCAA Division I Management Council.
From February of 2003 to October of 2004, Schemmel was the senior vice president and executive director of development for the Arizona State University Foundation, where he oversaw that school's fundraising efforts while supervising approximately 135 employees across the Tempe campus.
Schemmel was an administrator at the University of Minnesota from 1991 to 2003. During his stay in the Twin Cities, he advanced from associate athletic director for compliance to senior associate athletic director and chief operating officer for Gopher athletics.
Along with his departmental duties, Schemmel directed the school's efforts in hosting NCAA Championship events, including the 2001 Final Four, one of America's fastest growing events.
He also supervised and implemented a $3 million capital improvement campaign, and was heavily involved in the hiring of Minnesota's head football and men's basketball coaches.
From 1988 to 1991, Schemmel was an administrator at his alma mater, Kansas State. He served as the school's assistant athletic director for development and later was the associate athletic director for compliance while supervising the school's Olympic sports.
Schemmel was part of the management team that hired Bill Snyder as the Wildcats head football coach. Under Snyder's direction, Kansas State executed what is considered one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history. K-State had made just one bowl appearance in its history prior to Snyder's arrival, did not win a single game in the two seasons before he took over in 1989, and had just three wins in the previous four seasons. Under Snyder, the Wildcats went to a bowl game 11 times and claimed their first-ever Big 12 title.
Schemmel was a decorated runner at Kansas State and was named the 1976 outstanding student athlete at the school. As a Wildcat, he was a four-time track and field All-American, a five-time Big 8 Conference champion, was a member of a national champion distance medley relay team and won the Big 8 Conference Medallion.
He also served as an ABC Television and Time Magazine correspondent for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
After earning his undergraduate degree in political science, Schemmel earned his law degree at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. He began his professional career as an attorney and later was a partner in his own firm, specializing in business and sports law.
Schemmel and his wife, Lori, have been married for 29 years. They have two adult sons, Justin, and Jon, who plays minor league baseball in the San Diego Padres organization.
