Sports Is Education - Bios

John Planek
Athletic Director, Loyola University

In seven years under the direction of John Planek, the Loyola University Chicago athletics department has enjoyed unprecedented success as the Ramblers have captured a total of 17 regular-season or tournament championships, with the women's volleyball squad earning four trips to the NCAA Tournament and the women's soccer program capturing its first-ever NCAA appearance in 2004. Last season, the men's cross country program made its first-ever team appearance at the NCAA Championships.

Planek was named Loyola's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics on Sept. 15, 1999, after serving 13 years at DePaul University before becoming Director of Athletics at St. Ignatius College Prep in 1997.

At Loyola, Planek has overseen the construction of a new locker room facility at the soccer and softball fields, the installation of Field Turf at the soccer/softball complex, the renovation of the weight room in Alumni Gym and the completion of a new outdoor track on Halas Field. He was also instrumental in the move for the new athletics logo that was unveiled in July 2000 and for improvements to the Gentile Center, most notably the addition of videoboards.

Planek was also a driving force behind the creation of a Sports Management degree program at the undergraduate level, following the creation of a Sports Management Certificate Program. Furthermore, under Planek's leadership, Loyola formulated a partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance to house an office on campus. He was a catalyst for Loyola becoming a host site of state high school playoff games in both soccer and basketball and was instrumental in helping add several full-time staff positions with the athletics department.

In four years as associate athletics director at DePaul University, Planek served as the department's chief financial officer and oversaw the marketing, promotions, advertising and corporate sponsorship programs as well as the day-to-day operations of the ticket office. There he was also responsible for the solicitation of new advertisers and sponsors as well as developing and controlling the annual budget and assisting in contract negotiation. Prior to serving as associate athletics director, Planek was DePaul's assistant business manager.

Planek also has extensive championship experience at the Division I level. In 1997, he was the Conference USA Women's Basketball Tournament Manager and he was also a NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Manager in 1993. In 1992, he served as the Tournament Manager for the Great Midwest Men's Basketball Tournament.

At St. Ignatius, Planek was responsible for the administration of 19 interscholastic sports, including 60 coaches and more than 600 student-athletes on 46 teams. His responsibilities also included the oversight of facilities, intramurals and scheduling of all athletics contests.

Planek has a M.S. in sports administration from St. Thomas University in Miami, a B.S. in accounting from Illinois Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of Fenwick High School. He and his wife, Mary Alice, reside in Oak Park with their five children, Elizabeth (17), Mary Kate (15), John (13), Thomas (11), and Margaret (6)