mclapprood

[mclapprood]

Leadership Powering Charge Endicott Athletics

Endicott Athletics has served as an essential stepping stone for me as someone who is inspired to be a leader in the college landscape. I have been around college sports my whole life, being a Providence College Men’s Basketball fan ever since I could remember. Coming into college, I wanted to create a strong and lifelong relationship with people in the athletic department. I didn’t do as much research as I should have during my senior year when I was committed to Endicott. Still, during my first couple of weeks on campus, I quickly realized the level of professionalism athletics is at Endicott.

I got a unique perspective as someone who works within the athletic department, but also played baseball my first two years at EC. I saw Endicott has a home away from home and the family aspect of the campus and baseball team brought me here. I enjoyed the energy, passion, and hard work that baseball taught me and will continue to help throughout my professional career around sports. Endicott has become a powerhouse within the northeast region for all sports but is looking to break through onto the national stage winning national championships. With the leadership of Athletic Director, Brian Wylie and Associate Athletic Director, Mark Kulakowski, Endicott Athletics will continue to succeed and reach new heights as the years go on.

I was extremely impressed to hear about the collaboration that Wylie, Kulakowksi, administration, and coaches have with their student-athletes. Seeking advice or recommendations from the players themselves will help make operations and performance on the field that much better. As for coaches, constant communication in staff meetings and casual conversations with each other will allow them to bounce ideas off each other as well. The strength of Endicott Athletics comes from its strong alumni base that continues to grow and enhance the athletics experience as an athlete at Endicott. Giving Day is a great example of the community that Endicott prides itself on, especially if someone was on a sports team as well. 

The development of Endicott Athletics has been interesting to follow over the last four years of my undergraduate studies. We have seen improvements in the student gymnasium, new wood floors in the MacDonald Gymnasium, a new turf auxiliary room, and much more in the Post Center alone. These improvements are essential for the future of the athletic department and show the never-satisfied mentality of the administration in athletics. 

I believe that the athletic department as a whole has done a great job with a crucial topic within the NCAA right now, mental health. The idea of mental health struggles for athletes has to do with the ability to balance academics, athletics, social life, and much more. Giving the athletes resources like Leaders of Endicott Athletic Department, The Hidden Opponent, and psychology coaches will pay major dividends for athletes during their time on the field. With this, athletes are supporting each other at games and practices, which gives these athletes more confidence to play their best on the field. The time and dedication of Wylie, Kulakowski, and the rest of their staff have been something that should never be taken lightly by people around athletics.

Something that I have a great deal of research on and I believe should be discussed here at Endicott is the involvement of name, image, and likeness (NIL). The opportunities for DIII athletes are little to none as I completed my senior thesis on this situation. From talking to friends and classmates, I learned that athletes' knowledge about NIL is extremely limited and should be explained to them to push them to pursue these changes. The NCAA continues to focus on the DI athletes because of the bigger markets but, I can see DIII striking deals with local businesses especially Endicott with top athletes in their respective sports. Endicott Athletics will grow and produce more championships as the years go on with great leadership daily in Beverly.

[mclapprood]

Wlodarczyk Thriving In Any Role At Endicott

Working in athletics, specifically college sports, requires discipline and relationship-building to get where someone dreams. At Endicott, the faces of Athletic Director Brian Wylie and Associate Athletic Director Mark Kulakowski are achieving their goals and aspirations personally and professionally. As for Lucas Wlodarczyk, the journey is just beginning. Lucas graduated from Endicott’s School of Sport Science in May 2023, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. 

Wlodarczyk, a Tolland, Conn. native, was first introduced to the college athletic landscape during his undergrad as a public address announcer for baseball, scoreboard operator for basketball, and worked the chains for the football games, among other duties. 

Today, Lucas is Endicott's graduate assistant for athletic operations and sports information. During his part-time work, Lucas is pursuing his master’s in sport leadership at the School of Sport Science. The invaluable experience that Lucas has received before and after his master’s program makes him a strong candidate for a job in athletics he wants to pursue.

Q AND A: 

Q: What was it like to go through your undergrad at Endicott and also start in the athletic department before going to grad school?

A: After getting approved for work-study, I was lucky to start as a student worker in the Endicott Athletic Department during my sophomore year. I didn’t know what I wanted to do at first, but I reached out to Athletic Director Dr. Brian Wylie, and he pointed me toward Mark Kulakowski. I got to work with him and ended up doing a lot of PA, scoreboard operations, and other things for different sports. I sort of found my calling doing that—it was a lot of fun.

I also met Shawn Medeiros, Director of Sports Information, through that work, and just connected with a lot of people I felt comfortable with. That experience set the path for where I am now—doing grad school at Endicott and working as a grad assistant.

Q: How was the transition from Sport Management in undergrad to Sport Leadership in your master’s program?

A:Honestly, when I enrolled in the Sport Leadership program, I expected a lot of the classes to be repeats of what I had done in Sport Management, but they were very different. The professors come from diverse backgrounds, not just Endicott. There’s one from Boston College, another from Harvard, and one who worked in the NHL governing body, for example.

So, you’re learning from people in the field, and it's much more focused on real-world application. There are coaching classes with skills that current coaches can implement immediately. It’s very hands-on, whereas Sport Management was more about building foundational knowledge—like what you need to know to pursue a career in sports. Sport Leadership is more about applying that knowledge directly. It’s been a really cool transition.

Q: Going back to your freshman year—what prompted you to want to work in sports, and why do you want to keep pursuing it after completing your master’s?

A: I’ve always been obsessed with sports—starting with baseball and then shifting into basketball, football, and more. People used to joke that I should be the GM of the Red Sox one day, and as a kid, I thought that sounded pretty awesome.

But as I gained experience, I found that I really liked working behind the scenes in sports. I realized I didn’t necessarily want to be at the highest level, but I’m a people person, and I value everyday connections. That’s what led me toward Division III athletics—it’s a small, close-knit community where everyone knows each other.

I still get to do what I love: media, stats, game day operations. It’s all part of what I enjoy, along with that personal connection. So, through trial and error, I found that this is the path I want to pursue.

Q: What is your favorite part of your grad assistant position?

A: Definitely the gameday aspect—just being out there, leading a group of people like student workers, and making decisions on the fly. For example, in baseball season, I get to make the call on scoring a close play and decide how to rule it. That thought process and the intensity of those moments really gives me an adrenaline rush.

I love being hands-on and in the action during games. I also enjoy writing press releases and doing media work behind the scenes, but the in-person game day experience is definitely my favorite.

Q: In terms of sports information, what does collaboration look like in the office right now?

A: So right now, I handle both men's and women's soccer in the fall, men’s and women’s basketball in the winter, and mostly baseball in the spring. Shawn Madeiros oversees everything overall—he handles football, men’s ice hockey, softball, equestrian, roller hockey, and all the club sports. He also covers cross country and track & field.

Ryan is responsible for field hockey, women's and men's volleyball, and both lacrosse teams in the spring, as well as both ice hockey teams in the winter.

We all have our strengths and favorite sports, so the work is divided up accordingly. I get to work with sports I have the most experience with, which is great. It’s a good balance—we all play to our strengths, and that really lifts us up as a department.

Q: How has the guidance of coaches and administration in the athletic department helped you grow professionally?

A: We’re really fortunate at Endicott to have coaches and administrators with strong resumes, including success at both the collegiate and professional levels. But what stands out the most is how approachable they all are.

They’re always willing to have a conversation and never act like they’re above anyone else. That’s been the best part of working here during my grad assistantship.

If I ever have a question, I don’t hesitate to talk to whoever I need to—people are always willing to help, share advice, or even offer recommendations for my career. They’re also happy to give their insight on things that happen in games, which allows me both in my current role and in terms of professional development beyond it.

[mclapprood]

Always A Great Day To Be A Gull For Kulakowski

Mark Kulakowski, or “Kula” as he is known around Endicott College, is the first person you will see clearing a field full of snow, fixing a scoreboard, or even being a star in the Giving Day video. Now in his 23rd year at Endicott, Kulakowski manages all athletic facilities and game-day operations. His deep connection to college athletics dates back to his time as a student-athlete at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

As a four-year member of the Corsairs football team, he served as captain and was named the team's most valuable player in 2001, leading them to a 6-3 record—their best season since 1998. He led the Corsairs to a 6-3 record, which was the winningest season since 1998. Reflecting on his transition into college athletics, Kulakowski noted, 'When I started working in this field, I already had a sense of what worked and what didn’t from a student athlete’s perspective—especially when it came to academics and programming,”. Kulakowski graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Following his coaching career, Kulakowski’s leadership skills took center stage in 2007 and 2008 when he served as the MIAA North Sectional Softball Tournament Director. Immersed in the softball world at both the high school and collegiate levels, he also spent 15 spring seasons as an assistant coach under Endicott legend Mark Veilleux. During that time, the team captured 10 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) titles and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Transitioning from coaching to administration, Kulakowski set his sights on a leadership role in collegiate athletics. He saw collaboration with colleagues and student-athletes as an essential part of the college sports experience. “Everything we do is a team effort. We’re fortunate to have Brian Wylie as our athletic director—he gives us the freedom to work independently while still providing guidance,” Kulakowski said.

Having spent more than two decades at Endicott, Kulakowski has witnessed significant changes in the athletics department. “The biggest shift has been in expectations. We went from hoping to be competitive and maybe winning a conference championship to expecting to win and aiming for national rankings,” he reflected.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kulakowski played a critical role in managing all operations within the Post Center. His dedication and leadership were instrumental in overseeing the COVID-19 Testing Center and executing the College’s strategic response plan for the Endicott community. In recognition of his efforts, he was honored with the Class of 2021 Mingotide Yearbook Dedication Award.

As Endicott Athletics continued to evolve, Kulakowski’s leadership earned him a promotion to Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Recreation in the fall of 2023. In this role, he remains responsible for all aspects of facilities management, contest operations, recreation, and ROTC. With each new challenge, Endicott provides opportunities to build relationships across campus—with both students and colleagues. “Endicott is a special place, and I love working with 18- to 22-year-old students, as well as my colleagues, who I consider not just coworkers but friends,” Kulakowski shared.

The overall college athletics landscape has changed dramatically throughout Kula’s journey. The transfer portal continues to shock the minds and pockets of all involved, Kulakowski is no exception. “You make big-time athletics wherever you are, and Division III is no exception. The transfer portal and NIL have changed everything, especially at the Division I level, but those effects trickle down,” Kulakowski stated. The consistency of Kulakowski and his dedication to the development of the Endicott community make this campus a special place. 

[mclapprood]

Wylie Powering Gulls

The name Wylie is something you hear more than most on the Endicott streets and buildings. Dr. Brian Wylie Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics at Endicott College is an individual that people look to as the face of Endicott Athletics. Wylie attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., and played on their hockey and lacrosse teams during his undergraduate career. He later got his master of education degree at Endicott in 2002, after obtaining his Ph.D. from Lesley University. These degrees have led Wylie into the leadership role that he is in now. 

Wylie began his journey as director of the Post Center when the building opened in 1999. Since 2008, Wylie was named Director of Athletics at Endicott and has been the pioneer in the recent success the institution is seeing on and off the playing field. One thing off the record that Wylie was most proud about was starting the men’s and women’s hockey programs at Endicott. The Athletics & Recreation Department captured a school-tying record nine varsity conference championships culminating in the Gulls finishing No. 67 in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings out of 430 colleges and universities. The envisionment of Wylie and fellow administrators will continue to bring the athletic department to new heights in the years to come. Wylie is someone I look to as a mentor and someone I like to talk to about the current state of college athletics. 

Michael: How has collaboration with colleagues helped you in your leadership position? 

Dr. Wylie: I think communication is just critical in everything that we do, whether it's within our department or outside our department. It's sharing ideas. It's asking people for information that you wouldn't otherwise have. I think collaboration is critical to our success, speaking specifically athletically, to recruiting, to coaches, to policies and procedures, having a clear understanding and a strategic plan and a vision for that plan. I think has allowed us to certainly gain success in a lot of different areas. Moving from good to great is something that we've always talked about, and we're not there yet, but I think in some of the areas that we have we've established a great structure and blueprint for what success looks like. That always comes back down to communication. 

Michael: How much does communicating and listening to athletes allow you to make necessary adjustments in your leadership position?

Dr. Wylie: I think it's collaboration, communicating, and listening. Listening is critically important.

I think our coaches do a great job of listening to our student-athletes. I think administratively, I think we do a great job of listening to our coaches and the students. Students know that we want to be approachable. We want to hear from students. We want to understand the things that we could be doing better and we become aware of them in a timely way. I think there's a comfort in sharing ideas from students up and us down. I think we all want the same thing, and I do believe the students see that and know that. There is a clear understanding from our stakeholders, of the students and the families that we work with and with the college.

Michael: How do you see athletes collaborating to achieve overall athletic success?

Dr. Wylie: Yeah, I think student-athletes are doing a lot of communicating with their peers. I wonder if there's a better way that we could cultivate more sharing. We have our EC LEAD program and our emerging leader program, and they all often talk about how valuable it is to sit with their peers and hear about what other programs are going through and how they're handling certain situations, between captains or leadership or handling different situations. I just don't know if we could do a better job in creating that approach with all of our student-athletes and with all of our teams, I do think that several of our teams are close, and they work very closely amongst those teams. I do think some other teams are not as close.

Michael: If you could describe Endicott athletics in three words, what would those three words be? 

Dr. Wylie: That's a good question. I guess three words that come to mind would be a commitment to excellence, and those are the three words. But to give context to that, it's academically, it's athletically, it's professionally with the experiences that students have the opportunity to work with internships and study abroad. 

Michael: Personally, what is your motivation to come to work every day here at Endicott?

Dr. Wylie: I think it's working with students, seeing them grow and develop as freshmen to great people and moving on to do wonderful things within their careers well after Endicott, and staying in touch with those students and sharing the stories that they experience when they're here. Those stories that they're creating and making with their families and professionally, outside of Endicott. It's seeing the great work that they do with community service, the phenomenal academic work that they're doing in the classroom, and then we saw a great example of it this past weekend with the phenomenal athletic achievements of our teams that competed this week, whether it be women's hockey, men's hockey, women's basketball, or men's basketball, coming up with just a couple short, but it's their level of competition and how they deal with adversity and the relationships that they're building.