Sara Prinzi joins Tech Athletics as associate athletic director for development
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A former collegiate athlete and avid sports fan, Sara Prinzi is a perfect match as Tennessee Tech’s new associate athletic director for development, a position she recently transitioned into after earning the assignment from Tennessee Tech University Vice President for Advancement Kevin Braswell and Interim Associate Vice President for Development John Smith.
By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A former collegiate athlete and avid sports fan, Sara Prinzi is a perfect match as Tennessee Tech's new associate athletic director for development, a position she recently transitioned into after earning the assignment from Tennessee Tech University Vice President for Advancement Kevin Braswell and Interim Associate Vice President for Development John Smith.
"My family eats, sleeps and breathes athletics," Prinzi said, "so I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to bring my personal passion to my new role and career for the Tennessee Tech Athletics Department."
Prinzi made the transition after serving as regional director of development for the University since last October. In her time in the position, she worked with staff, alumni, and deans while serving the southwest region of the U.S. as well as the liaison for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and STEM.
"We are excited to realign Sara's responsibilities to support major gift philanthropy for the Department of Athletics," Smith said. "As a former student-athlete, she can relate to the student-athlete experience and engage donors with firsthand knowledge. Her drive and ambition will serve her well as she enhances existing relationships and forges new ones in the pursuit of philanthropic initiatives."
"Sara was a fantastic addition to Tennessee Tech University last year and I could not be more thrilled to have her joining our family in athletics," Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson expressed. "Her background as a former collegiate student-athlete and love for athletics are an added bonus to her work ethic and ability to develop relationships. We are excited to see her use all the tools in her belt to help with our fundraising and development efforts and provide each of our student-athletes with the best possible experience we can."
Prior to arriving at the University, Prinzi served as the development director at The Salvation Army in Knoxville, Tenn. for a year and also served as the nonprofit organization's regional resource development director in Louisville for over two years. Between both roles, she raised in excess of 15 million dollars and secured four estate gifts.
She spent the better part of five years working in multiple roles for the YMCA in both Knoxville and Urbana, Ohio. Those duties ranged from serving as the community health enhancement director in Urbana to covering multiple roles in Knoxville as the corporate membership director.
A 2010 graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio, Prinzi was a member of the women's tennis team and completed her bachelor's degree in business management in just three years. A member of one of the first teams after the University brought back athletics, she led the Racers in wins.
She also served as a fitness director and strength and conditioning coach at the University from 2005 through 2011. Prinzi worked with both men's and women's basketball programs, as well as the tennis, soccer and baseball teams. Additionally, she supervised day-to-day operations of the fitness center.
From 2002 to 2007, she was the owner and operator of Prinzi's Personal Training in Lima, Ohio, overseeing all day-to-day operations of the fitness facility, including staffing and programming.
Prinzi and her high school sweetheart, Joey, are married and live on a farm in Ten Mile, Tenn. The couple has two daughters, Heaven and Lyric. The family is very active and enjoys traveling, hiking and kayaking.
Please reach out to Sara at 931-372-6187 or sprinzi@tntech.edu to talk about how you can create a scholarship, endowment or planned gift to Tennessee Tech University and change the lives of the student-athletes for generations to come.
