Matthew Jakobsze Joins Mizzou Athletics Staff As Associate A.D. For Compliance
2/9/2019 4:49:00 PM | General
Veteran Staff Members Andrea Benna & Bob Nolte Promoted Into New Roles.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Matthew Jakobsze has been named Mizzou Athletics new Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, MU Executive Associate Athletics Director for Compliance & Administration Andy Humes announced today. Jakobsze joins the Mizzou staff from Eastern Michigan University, where he has spent the previous six years in a similar role.
"We are thrilled to have an individual with Matt's experience in so many areas joining our team," Humes said. "His skill-set is a perfect match for this position, which will direct the day-to-day activities of our compliance office, and we are excited to get him on board."
As Associate Athletics Director for Compliance at Eastern Michigan, Jakobsze oversaw all athletics compliance operations, with responsibility for legislation, governance, policy, waivers and investigations. He also served as EMU's liaison to the NCAA and Mid-American Conference for NCAA rules interpretations, an advisor for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and as the department's liaison with Financial Aid, Student Business Services, Registrar, Admissions, Office of International Students & Scholars, Housing and Dining. Jakobsze also oversaw the summer school and the Student-Athlete Assistance Fund at EMU.
"I am honored to have been selected for this important position, and I want to thank Jim Sterk and Andy Humes for this incredible opportunity," Jakobsze said. "It's an exciting time to be at Mizzou, the department is well positioned to take the next steps at every level, and I look forward to working with the University administration, coaches, student-athletes, and community to uphold the integrity of the institution."
An eight-year member of the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC), Jakobsze serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee. He was also a member of the MAC Student-Athlete Mental Health & Well-Being Committee.
Jakobsze went to Eastern Michigan after working as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and before that as the Compliance Coordinator at Northern Illinois University where he also supported NIU's CHAMPS/Life Skills Program. While in law school, he started an externship program between NIU's Huskie Athletic Compliance Office and Northern Illinois University's College of Law.
While at NIU, Jakobsze was a member of the Board of Editors of the Northern Illinois University Law Review, President of the College of Law's Sports & Entertainment Law Society, and represented NIU in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. He has published three articles, including an American Bar Association award-winning article discussing Major League Soccer, collective bargaining, and the antitrust implications of diverging ownership interests.
Jakobsze was a magna cum laude graduate of Dominican University (River Forest, Ill.), where he majored in psychology and political science, and was a Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete. While at Dominican, Jakobsze captained the men's soccer team as a defensive center midfielder. He received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Northern Illinois University's College of Law.
The Palatine, Ill., native is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois and is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association.
Humes also announced the promotions of Andrea Benna to Director of Compliance and Bob Nolte to Associate Director of Compliance. Benna is in her 12th year at Mizzou, while Nolte is in his seventh year of service to MU.
