By Amy Chastain
Staff Writer
CSUSM Athletic Director Jennifer Milo has been a longstanding part of the Athletic Department since she was first brought on a decade ago.
Jennifer Milo started with CSUSM in 2005 when she was hired to start a softball team. In 2005, Milo was given just one year to recruit and build a softball program in which she would be the inaugural head coach. In 2012, after years of coaching the softball team, Jennifer Milo stepped into a new role as the Athletic Director at CSUSM.
Three years later, Milo is continuing to have an impact on the athletics of this university. Andrea Leonard, women’s volleyball head coach, praised Milo as truly being “there for the coaches.” Ron Pulvers, men’s soccer head coach, echoed this sentiment when he said that Milo is “always accessible” and provides “so much support” for the coaching staff.
Jennifer Milo was instrumental in making the final push for CSUSM’s move from NAIA to NCAA Division II. The battle to obtain NCAA approval had been going on for 12 years. Cal State San Marcos had been turned down twice. Under Milo’s leadership, the third time was truly a charm and CSUSM won its bid to be an NCAA Division II school beginning next year.
Although the move to NCAA will be one of the most highlighted achievements on Milo’s career resume, Milo said how proud she was of the ability to provide athletes with a student-athlete experience.
“You only have [the student-athlete] experience once in your life and if it’s a bad one, you never get that back,” she said.
Milo is dedicated to providing all student-athletes with the best possible experience here at CSUSM.
She said that her proudest accomplishment would probably be the new Sports Center, which will break ground on March 23. In discussing the importance of a sports center, Milo stressed that CSUSM athletes will finally have a home. Instead of having to travel between class, the training facility and a game site, athletes will have the luxury of having everything based on campus. This unifying of athletic facilities adds another great element to the student-athlete experience at CSUSM.
In talking with Athletic Director Jennifer Milo, one thing becomes crystal clear: Milo puts the student-athletes first. In every decision that Jennifer Milo and her staff make, it is evident that they truly care about the students-athletes that represent Cal State San Marcos.