Former Kansas University senior associate athletic director Richard Konzem, who worked as AD at Rockhurst University since 2007, on Tuesday was named chief operating officer for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Konzem, who also served as AD of Benedictine College for a year and a half, has more than 30 years of managerial experience in intercollegiate athletics.
“I look forward to the opportunity to return to working in Lawrence and working with the golf course superintendents in a field I am very passionate about,” said Konzem, who is an avid golfer. “One thing as I transition … the golf course superintendents do a lot concerning education with the membership and service to the membership. Those are common denominators in education, particularly at Benedictine and Rockhurst, where education and service are two of the founding principles.
Though it is difficult to leave college athletics after 30 years. I felt this was such a good opportunity with such a good organization right here in Lawrence it made it an easy call,” added Konzem, who commuted from Lawrence to Atchison and Kansas City for his last two jobs.
Konzem will begin his new duties on Oct. 17.
“I am pleased and excited to have Richard join the GCSAA team,” GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Rhett Evans said. “He has an impressive track record of success supporting and facilitating a performance-driven culture among a group of diverse and talented individuals. That will serve the association well as he oversees the day-to-day operations of association programs with a focus on serving the GCSAA membership.”
Konzem, according to a news release from the Association, “will be responsible for developing, implementing and executing key member programs that support the achievement of the association’s mission, vision and operational goals. He will serve on the association’s executive team and oversee the professional development, membership, strategic communications, corporate marketing, sales and business development, environmental programs and events and meeting planning departments. He will also represent GCSAA in a variety of industry and allied association events, programs and activities.”
A native of Salina, Konzem graduated from KU in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned a master’s in education: athletics administration from University of Southern California in 1984. While at USC, Konzem began his career in fundraising and event management in the athletic department. He returned to his undergraduate alma mater in 1981, serving in a variety of capacities for 23 years. He rose to the position of senior associate AD, including a stint as interim AD in the summer of 2001. As senior associate AD at Kansas, Konzem supervised men’s and women’s basketball, football, baseball, the Williams Educational Fund (with $5 million in annual scholarship donations), athletic ticket staff, and the events and facilities staff.
He executed national search efforts for coaches, served on a variety of NCAA committees, negotiated contracts, oversaw corporate sponsorships, administered rules compliance, and managed ticket operations among other duties. He also supervised the men’s and women’s golf teams.
Konzem left the athletic department to become deputy director of KU’s Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics for two years
Konzem recently completed terms on the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, the Sunflower State Games Board of Directors, the United Way of Douglas County and the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He was a member of the Leadership Kansas Class in 2004. Konzem and his wife, Debbie, chaired the 2006 United Way Campaign in Lawrence, raising $1.65 million. He was also the media coordinator for the Kansas Open Golf Tournament (1991-96). Konzem has two adult children: a son Scott and a daughter Sally.
