Veteran College Athletics Administrator Cardone named CCCAA Executive Director

SACRAMENTO - Jennifer Cardone, who has served as Interim Executive Director for the California Community College Athletic Association since early 2020 while the organization faced unprecedented circumstances during the current coronavirus pandemic, has been named to the position on a permanent basis, it was announced on Wednesday by CCCAA Board of Directors Chair Dr. Erika Endrijonas, Superintendent/President of Pasadena City College.

Cardone, who previously served nearly six years as Director of Membership Services, assumed her interim duties on Jan. 1, 2020 after Carlyle Carter stepped aside from the position after nearly 15 years.

“I am truly honored to be selected as the next Executive Director of the CCCAA,” said Cardone. “I wish to thank the CCCAA Board of Directors for selecting me. I wholeheartedly believe in the purpose and mission of our California Community Colleges and know first-hand that athletics is an avenue to assist students in achieving their goals.

“As someone who went to college because it allowed me to continue to play softball, I understand the importance of intercollegiate athletics and its unique ability to provide opportunities that may not be there or may not be as apparent to young people,” she continued. “To now be the leader of an organization that does just that is truly humbling, and I look forward to giving back and helping future generations of student-athletes make their marks.”

Cardone has nearly three decades of experience in postsecondary education, including as Compliance Assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1994-97 and overseeing Compliance Services at the University of California, Davis, from 1997-2013. Cardone joined the CCCAA in 2014 and has been extremely involved with many areas of the organization, most notably directing the annual legislative process from submission of proposals to review by the CCCAA Board and Management Council Committees to voting during the annual convention.

She has maintained many of those duties while serving as Interim Executive Director, yet has managed to move the organization forward during extenuating circumstances. Over the past year, she has overseen a marketing and multimedia rights agreement with Steel Curtain U to help secure revenue for the CCCAA, a new sponsorship agreement with HomeTown Ticketing and a new broadcast agreement for state championships.

Cardone helped establish the CCCAA’s COVID Working Group, which has met consistently to help the association address the myriad of concerns, questions and complications surrounding student-athlete eligibility, transfer issues and competition that have arisen during the pandemic. The CCCAA is currently finishing a full complement of fall sports championships after not being able to hold any championships since late 2019.

“The entire CCCAA Board has been impressed with Jennifer Cardone, especially the ways she’s navigated COVID and has kept the CCCAA moving forward despite the difficult circumstances,” said Dr. Endrijonas. “We welcome her to the permanent Executive Director position and are confident that she will continue to elevate the visibility of the organization.”

Cardone has been involved extensively with the CCCAA Management Council, which is comprised of athletic directors, coaches, commissioners, eligibility specialists and others, and oversees operational elements of the association. Taft College Director of Athletics Kanoe Bandy, who chairs the Management Council, said Cardone has been an indispensable part of the organization.

“As Management Council Chairperson, it has been a pleasure working with Jennifer Cardone as the Interim Executive Director,” Bandy said. “Since Management Council represents all of the Affiliate Organizations, it is very important that we build a working relationship based on collegial conversations.  This relationship will keep the exchange of ideas as the Association moves into the future. Congratulations Jennifer.” 

At UC Davis, Cardone oversaw all compliance services for the NCAA Division I program that encompassed as many as 27 intercollegiate sports and more than 500 student-athletes. She helped oversee the school's five-year transition from Div. II to Div. I, implementing technology to ensure an active, reportable and engaged compliance program.

She monitored an athletics grant-in-aid program that annually awarded more than $6 million, supervised the field hockey and men's soccer programs, and was involved with many other key areas of the athletics administration. She ended her tenure there as Associate Athletics Director. 

Cardone earned her undergraduate degree in physical education from Adelphi University in 1990, where she was a starting shortstop for its softball team that advanced to the Women's College World Series in 1988. She received her master's in educational administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2000.