Lewis University Athletics

Brian Summers enters his tenth year as a member of the Lewis University Athletics Staff and his first as the Associate Director of Athletics For External Affairs. Summers, who was Lewis[apos] Assistant Sports Information Director from 2001-05, had served as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing/Promotions for the past five years. [quote]Brian is undeniably deserving of this promotion and his heart is truly in the bricks of Lewis University,[quote] Schumacher said. [quote]He embodies the NCAA Division II platform that helps our student-athletes balance academic excellence, athletics achievement and community engagement.[quote] This was no more evident than in Summers[apos] creation of Lewis[apos] [quote]Spread Your Wings[quote] program. The program incorporates the five commitment areas (academic, athletic, career development, personal development and service) of the NCAA/CHAMPS Lifeskills program. The initiative includes a contest among all of the Athletic programs where each team is measured based on its participation. There are 29 areas for teams to earn points, including cumulative grade point average, resume building, attendance to campus events/speakers and community service. Summers also handles all aspects of fundraising for the Athletics Department, which has increased its total revenue by over $200,000. He initiated a corporate sponsorship program and is the primary contact for the Varsity Club which is created solely for the benefit of the Lewis Athletics Department and its student-athletes. He is also the primary coordinator for all game management duties for home events and has helped lead a dramatic increase in fan attendance in recent years. Since 2005-06, Lewis men[apos]s basketball attendance has increased by 60%, while the women[apos]s basketball team has improved by 48%. His 'Take a Kid To The Game[apos] program has helped double the Flyers[apos] youth attendance in the past two years. Among his current duties, Summers is the administrative advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and Athletics Department representative for Joliet[apos]s KidzFest. Summers was a member of the Lewis University Staff Affairs Committee for two years and served as its chairman in 2009-10. He also was a member of the Lewis United Way Committee from 2006-09. From 2006-10, he was a member of the NCAA Men[apos]s Volleyball National Committee, while serving as the chairman for two years during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Summers and his wife Tracy reside in Joliet.