Titans’ DiTolla and Jeremiah Get Promoted

Steve DiTolla has been promoted to senior associate athletic director at Cal State Fullerton, and women’s basketball Coach Maryalyce Jeremiah will assume additional duties as interim senior women’s administrator, Titan Athletic Director Bill Shumard said Monday.

Jeremiah takes over for Associate Athletic Director Leanne Grotke, a 13-year Fullerton administrator whose retirement is effective on Sunday. Operations director Mary Ann Tripodi also will assume some of Grotke’s compliance and personnel duties.

The promotions from within have allowed the school to freeze Grotke’s salary, thus trimming the 1991-92 budget. But Shumard said he could not determine how much would be saved, because Grotke has accrued several months of vacation.

Jeremiah, who will supervise women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s track and cross-country, men’s and women’s fencing, volleyball, women’s tennis and softball, will remain in the position for at least one school year.

She also will be involved in departmental planning and budgeting and will be in charge of equity issues, the student-athlete advisory board and the substance abuse and education program.

DiTolla, who served as interim athletic director before Shumard’s Aug. 1 appointment, will oversee the day-to-day operations of six sports--football, men’s basketball, wrestling, soccer, baseball and men’s gymnastics--as well as the athletic training office. He also is in charge of all budgets, personnel matters, grants-in-aid and letters of intent.

Shumard said he will monitor the women’s basketball program. He also will evaluate the senior women’s administrator position next spring to determine how to fill it on a permanent basis.

“We don’t necessarily have to replace Leanne apples for apples,” Shumard said. “We’ve got 10 months to determine what we need on staff, and in the interim, we have some good people to fill the role.”