The Valparaiso University Department of Athletics and Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera has announced promotions for athletics staff members Tristan Leonhard, Erica Fedornock and Robbie Crimmins. In addition, Jake Sale of Valpo’s Annual Giving Department has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Development.

Leonhard has been promoted to Associate Director of Athletics for Recreational Sports and eSport Programs. He continues his ascension in the Valpo Athletics leadership team that began when he was hired as the Assistant Director of Recreational Sports after graduating from Valpo in 2009 with a degree in business marketing. Leonhard, who completed his master’s in sports administration from Valpo in May 2011, was promoted to Associate Director of Recreational Sports in November 2017. He received another promotion in Spring 2020 as he took over leadership of Valpo recreation sports as Director of Recreational Sports / Assistant Director of Athletics.

“Tristan has been a part of our recreational sports staff since his time as a student here at Valpo,” LaBarbera said. “He is committed to our strong tradition of providing recreational, sport, and fitness opportunities for the entire community. He has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of our esports program.”

Fedornock has been promoted to Director of Ticketing and Promotions, expanding her role after previously serving as Ticket Operations Manager. She joined the Valpo Athletics staff after graduating from Valpo in 2014 with a degree in sport management and a minor in business administration. A Northwest Indiana native who graduated from Morgan Township High School, Fedornock will continue to manage daily box office operations and gameday ticket operations in addition to planning marketing and promotional schedules and implementing a ticketing/marketing plan.

“Erica has been involved with our patrons and ticket holders for the past seven years,” LaBarbera said. “She understands our events, our community and the needs of our fans from the ground up.  We look forward to an exciting year of competition with our fans back in the stands and rolling out new promotions under her leadership.”

Crimmins has been promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics for Operations after joining the Valpo Athletics staff in November 2018 as the Director of Event Operations. He is responsible for helping oversee the department’s event management and facility operations. He is also in charge of overseeing the equipment room operations, providing oversight to Valpo’s cheer and dance teams and overseeing distribution of letter awards. Crimmins is a two-time Valpo graduate, completing his bachelor’s degree in sports management with minors in business administration and communication in 2018 before earning his master’s in sports administration in May 2021.

Sale joined Valpo’s staff in June 2019 and previously served as the Assistant Director of Valpo’s Annual Giving Fund for Athletics. Sale spent two years as a ticket sales and development graduate assistant at Illinois State and was an account executive and Director of Community Relations for the Bloomington Thunder hockey team. Sale played baseball at Parkland College (2012-2014) and Illinois State (2014-2016). He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and his master’s in sport management from Illinois State.