After a comprehensive, months-long national search, the University of Mary Washington has named Patrick Catullo ’95 its new director of athletics.
One of the most successful coaches in UMW history, Catullo took on the role of interim director during the summer of 2018. Since then, he has proven himself as a leader and collaborator committed to the educational experience of student-athletes. He also has gained significant experience at the department’s helm, supervising a large staff, managing a complex budget and building partnerships across the Mary Washington campus and in the Fredericksburg region.
Catullo’s dedication to UMW’s mission and values resonates in the relationships he has built with students, colleagues, families, alumni and community members, and in his long history at UMW.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from then-Mary Washington College in 1995, Catullo served as head women’s tennis coach at Broward Community College, where he won two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championships and was named NJCAA Coach of the Year. In 2000, he earned a master’s degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy.
As Mary Washington’s head women’s tennis coach from 2004 to 2018, Catullo advanced the team to 14 conference championships and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances. He also served as UMW’s assistant director of athletics and director of compliance between 2012 and 2018.
As director of athletics, Catullo will focus on upholding UMW’s tradition of academic and competitive excellence while strategically positioning the department for the future. He will oversee 23 varsity sports, as well as two team club sports – men’s rugby and women’s rugby.
Building on the competitive success that led the department to the 2019 Capital Athletic Conference All-CAC Sports Award, Catullo will lead an accomplished group of coaches and staff in promoting student-athletic achievement. He will guide strategic planning for the Department of Athletics, serve as chief departmental spokesperson and advocate, and champion an environment that embraces inclusive excellence at all levels.
The search to fill the director of athletics position was national in scope and required the talents and dedication of faculty, staff and alumni, who worked diligently for months to identify and engage a talented pool of qualified candidates from across the country.
Since UMW’s founding in 1908, athletic participation has guided generations of students in learning, leadership and post-graduate success. Catullo’s skills and expertise promise to provide the momentum necessary for the UMW Department of Athletics to continue to thrive in support of its mission and strategic vision: to prepare an increasingly diverse student body for leadership in a global environment of change.
