New York University has successfully appointed Mr. Jake Olkkola as the next Director of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation. Mr. Olkkola will begin his new role on June 10, 2024. A seasoned collegiate athletics professional, Mr. Olkkola comes to Washington Square from Johns Hopkins University where he's served in multiple capacities since 2019. From 2019-21 Mr. Olkkola was Johns Hopkins' Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation before being elevated to Deputy Director of Athletics and Recreation in 2021. Prior to JHU, Mr. Olkkola was the Director of Athletics at Colby College from 2017-19. At Colby, he oversaw the athletic department's 32 varsity programs which achieved many "firsts" under his leadership. From 2010-17, Mr. Olkkola was part of the University of Delaware's athletics leadership team. He was the Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation from 2010-15 and was promoted to Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation in 2015. The Ossipee, NH, native's first role in collegiate athletics was at Harvard University, where he worked as Director of Recreation from 2003-08. Mr. Olkkola is a 2001 graduate of New Hampshire College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management. He earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University in 2019. Read more.