Loyola University Chicago

University Staff Council

November 2014

David Vitel

Title/s:  Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance

Email: dvitel@luc.edu

About

Department/School/Division: Athletics
Campus: Lake Shore Campus
Years at Loyola: 8

What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola?
I love my everyday interactions with the student athletes and coaches.

What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee?  
Any time a current student athlete thanks me for the work I do with them, or tells me how big of an impact I have on their lives. Any time alumni call, text, or email about how wonderful and memorable their time was here at Loyola. Working with our sports performance staff. Any time my former student athletes tell me they keep working out post-graduation and are still doing the workouts we did in college. Those make for great memorable moments. Also, being a part of the 2014 Men’s Volleyball National Championship run was pretty cool.

What does Loyola's mission mean to you?
There are a lot of ways we can answer this question. I like to follow the principles of cura personalis (care of the whole person) and homines pro aliis (people caring for others)I believe if you do those well, chances are you will be good at what you do. I am trying to create an atmosphere that not only educates student athletes on all things sports performance but also gives them an experience that will enrich their lives going forward.

What motivates you to succeed each and every day?
Results. The sports performance industry is results-driven. You need to get results, whether it's getting the student athlete stronger, quicker, faster, more agile, leaner, more explosive, or just in better cardiovascular shape. I want to be able to say that we are providing every variable to help these kids reach their "maximum potential" while they are here at Loyola. I care deeply about Loyola University Chicago and its athletic program. I want to see the University succeed probably more than most, which is why we fight so hard to get more funding and better facilities. I don't think the Loyola community really understands how awesome a great athletics program could be for this school!

Tell us how you show your Rambler Pride.
I show my pride by representing this school and our athletics program everyday with honesty and integrity. I bring the energy and enthusiasm for our student athletes and sport coaches.  I cheer and encourage them through good times and bad.  I show them that I care when no one else seems to.

Tell us something that most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you.
When I was in junior high, I won a talent show dancing hip hop! I love '80s music! I also worked in the NBA for 5 years.