Chris Zorich, a Notre Dame football standout and former Chicago Bears defensive lineman, has been named director of athletics at Prairie State College.
He started July 1. The PSC board of trustees gave Zorich a one-year contract, the same as all administrators. He is replacing Jacqueline Hoak who resigned because she was relocating.
The PSC board has given Zorich responsibility for planning, administering and directing the college’s intercollegiate athletics, intramural and recreation programs.
PSC’s Pioneers compete through the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference.
PSC offers men’s sports in baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer and tennis and women’s sports in basketball, cheerleading, cross country, soccer, softball and volleyball.
Zorich also will be coordinating practice and game schedules with the Field House Complex management team. PSC’s Pioneer Recreation and Sports Park has tennis courts and baseball, softball and soccer fields. Basketball and volleyball teams practice and compete in the Pioneer Fieldhouse, located in the Fitness Complex on North Campus.
Zorich will be working with the PSC Foundation and the school’s intercollegiate teams to generate private or corporate support.
“We are fortunate to have Mr. Zorich join us as our director of athletics,” said PSC President Dr. Terri L. Winfree. “With his strong professional background and personal experience in collegiate sports, he will be a great asset to the student athletes of PSC, as well as the entire PSC community.”
Zorich founded the Chris Zorich Charitable Foundation while he was a professional football player. The foundation was known for its numerous acts of kindness, but Zorich ran into trouble when federal charges were filed against him for not paying taxes. He was sentenced to probation and is making payments on the back taxes and penalties.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Zorich was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and went on to play professional ball for the Chicago Bears and then the Washington team. After several years in the National Football League, he returned to school earning a law degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Most recently, Zorich has worked for the Chicago Park District as a park supervisor.
He previously worked as director of athletics for the Community of St. Sabina in Chicago, and was a manager of youth programming and community outreach and manager for student welfare and development at the University of Notre Dame.