BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League has announced the hiring of Michael Blanar as Director of Sport Administration and Policy. Blanar joins the League office staff after serving eight years as Assistant Director of Athletics Facilities and Equipment Operations at Loyola University Maryland.
In his position, Blanar will support the League’s championships and sport administration, serving as the primary liaison for select Patriot League sports. Within these sports, he is tasked with managing daily operations while working directly with member institutions to interpret pertinent sport operational policies and providing on-site supervision for select League championships. He will support officiating programs, video exchange processes and key events, including the League’s men’s and women’s basketball championships. In the role, he will also assist with committee operations, track NCAA compliance matters and contribute to policy development.
“Michael’s outstanding work within our membership and his demonstrated commitment to League principles make him an ideal fit within our staff and a great resource for our institutions,” Patriot League Commissioner Jennifer Heppel said. “We are excited to welcome him to our League office staff and bring his experience to our operation.”
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Patriot League office and take this next step in my professional career,” Blanar said. “I look forward to transitioning my campus-level experience into League-wide impact, focusing on policy and administration that supports Patriot League member institutions as they develop the next generation of leaders.”
At Loyola Maryland, Blanar spent nearly a decade managing the facilities and equipment operations for the Greyhounds’ 18 varsity sports. In addition to working closely with departmental administration in the budgeting for capital projects and renovations, he also handled staffing and payroll for two full-time facility and equipment managers, and more than 30 work-study employees. He was the site supervisor and event manager for Loyola Maryland basketball, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball, and worked closely with the League office as the Tournament Director and Patriot League liaison for basketball, soccer and lacrosse championships.
He also spent more than seven years of his career at Lehigh University as an Athletics Facilities and Events Associate, where he served as the point person for event staffing and hiring for internal and external events. One of his areas of focus also included building supervisor and event manager for Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp, the Lehigh Valley Home Show, the Lehigh Valley Auto Show, high school graduation ceremonies and Penn State Lehigh Valley basketball games.
Blanar, a Bethlehem, Pa. native, earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management and business from DeSales University in 2007. He graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School in 2003. He currently resides in Bethlehem with his wife, Catherine and their son, Thomas.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.