Palchak Named CSCAA Chief Operations Officer
Maureen Palchak will become the Chief Operations Officer for the CSCAA.
Northwestern University Associate Athletic Director Maureen Palchak has been named Chief Operations Officer of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America, CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany announced.
“I am excited to announce the addition Maureen Palchak to the CSCAA,” Barany said. “Maureen is a swimmer, and she is impassioned to further help our sport. She is an established athletic administrator at Northwestern where she developed management experience, created an influential network, and gained NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championship Committee involvement. More importantly, Maureen has a record of building strong, healthy relationships. The CSCAA will benefit from her experienced professionalism, her care for others, and her passion for swimming.”
In her role as COO, Palchak will contribute in the development and execution of the CSCAA’s strategic vision and operational plan. “The CSCAA is building a team to support our member coaches and teams through the inevitable changes on the horizon of college athletics. Maureen is a key part of that team,” said Barany.
“Thank you to Sam, Greg and the Board for entrusting me with this opportunity during arguably one of the most complex times in collegiate athletics,” Palchak said. “I am ready and eager to get to work supporting all Swimming and Diving Coaches! My nearly 15 years at Northwestern allowed me to learn alongside some of the best administrators in the industry during an exciting time in Evanston. The ability to engage with NU's remarkable coaches impacted me as a person, as a leader and as a parent.
“Ultimately, for me it always comes back to the water. Being able to combine that love with working alongside coaches is an absolute thrill. I owe a debt of gratitude to all of the colleagues and coaches I have learned from, and am especially thankful for the leadership of my former Athletic Directors Jim Phillips and Derrick Gragg at NU.”
Prior to joining the CSCAA, Palchak spent 15 years with the Northwestern Department of Athletics and Recreation. She most recently served as sport administrator for the NU swimming and diving programs for seven years in addition to leading the University’s entire Recreation department since 2019. Palchak also oversaw the Wildcats’ women’s golf and volleyball programs during her time in Evanston.
"The CSCAA has found an absolute rockstar in Maureen,” commented Jim Phillips, current ACC Commissioner and former Northwestern Vice President for Athletics and Recreation.. “Her inspired administrative leadership and ability to focus on both coaching development as well as the student-athlete experience elevated every program she touched at Northwestern. In addition, Maureen is universally respected among her colleagues and peers. Her positive attitude and relentless pursuit of excellence bring out the best in those around her. The coaches and student-athletes in the collegiate swimming community have an amazing advocate on their side, and I could not be more excited for everyone involved."
In addition to her work with the Northwestern, Palchak completed a two-year term on the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Committee in 2022.
“Maureen served the Northwestern Swimming & Diving program through a transformational period,” NU Director of Swimming and Diving Katie Robinson said. “The growth of our team is illustrative of her dedication, her integrity and her passion for collegiate swimming & diving. She has been a consistently strong leader with a maturity that comes from many years of experience in sport administration. She balances supporting student-athletes AND coaches alike, something I have found quite rare in sport supervisors. The CSCAA is tremendously lucky to have her. There is no doubt in my mind our coaching body will strengthen with her leadership.”
A Marshall, Mich., native, Palchak graduated from Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Ind., in 2004 where she swam four years on the Belles' varsity swim team and set five program records. She earned her master's degree in sports administration from Northwestern University in 2008.
Palchak resides in Evanston, Ill., with her husband, Doug Meffley, her son, Jackson, and her daughter, Eliza.
About the CSCAA
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) – the first organization of college coaches in America -is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level.