Belmonte Accepts Position with DHR International

HAMDEN, Conn. - Quinnipiac University today announced that Val Belmonte is leaving his position as vice president, athletic marketing and external relations to accept a position with DHR International - one of the nation's "Top-Five" executive search firms - as executive vice president in the company's Chicago office. Belmonte joins former University of Michigan football head coach Lloyd Carr and former Louisiana State University football head coach Gerry DiNardo as recent hires in DHR's sports practice group. Belmonte's other specialty areas with DHR will include education and not-for-profit organizations. 

"While I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Quinnipiac University, I am excited to accept this unique offer being presented by DHR International," said Belmonte. "I would like to thank (Quinnipiac President) John Lahey for his tremendous support and leadership over the last several years. The opportunities here at Quinnipiac exceeded my expectations and I credit the expertise and dedication of my staff for much of our success. I also extend my appreciation to (DHR Chairman & CEO) David Hoffman, who has engineered both a reputation and a proven track record for DHR that are unparalleled in its field. I look forward to working with his talented team in Chicago."

While at Quinnipiac University Belmonte served as a member of the president's cabinet and oversaw Quinnipiac's 21-sport NCAA Division I Athletic Department and all of its business-related initiatives, including the opening of the TD Banknorth Sports Center in January of 2007. Belmonte's long and accomplished career in sports administration and coaching spans three decades at the collegiate, national and international levels. Prior to joining Quinnipiac in November 2005, Belmonte served as executive director of U.S. Figure Skating in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"I congratulate Val and wish him the best of luck on behalf of the entire Quinnipiac University community," said Quinnipiac University President John L. Lahey. "He performed an outstanding job establishing the TD Banknorth Sports Center and his contributions will be missed when he leaves at the end of the academic year. DHR International is a premier firm that has brought considerable talent to Quinnipiac and I'm sure Val will enjoy continued success in this new opportunity."

"I am delighted to have Val join DHR International. His accomplished career in coaching and sports administration at the collegiate, national and international levels make him an immense complement to the DHR sports practice," said David Hoffmann, chairman and chief executive officer. "Universities are placing increased importance on their hiring decisions of coaches and other leadership positions. The continued growth of coaching salaries and the benefits of a winning program make this choice potentially worth tens of millions of dollars to an institution.  We have designed our collegiate search process to mirror the methodologies applied to Fortune 500 clients so that universities are able to attract and hire the best possible candidates. Our sports practice members collectively have coached in half of the conferences that comprise the Bowl Championship Series and will employ this unique knowledge base to better serve our collegiate clients. As the only major firm with several premier coaches and athletic directors, DHR is the leader in sports recruiting."

Belmonte also spent four years as athletic director at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., beginning in 2000. During this period Union was consistently ranked among the top 15 percent of all NCAA Division III institutions in the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings. Prior to Union, Belmonte served as director of coaching at USA Hockey in Colorado Springs from 1991-2000. In this role he managed the Coaching Education Program and was responsible for procuring numerous grants on behalf of the National Governing Body. Belmonte also was named team leader for the 1998 U.S. Men's National Team at the IIHF World Championship in Zurich, Switzerland.

After leaving USA Hockey Belmonte continued to serve as an integral facet of the organization as secretary on the Executive Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors. He has also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee's Coaching Committee, USOC High Performance Advisory Committee and American Red Cross/USOC Sports Safety Committee.

A member of the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame, he began his college hockey coaching career in 1975-76 as an assistant coach with the University of North Dakota, and the next season joined the University of Illinois-Chicago before becoming an assistant coach at Harvard University in 1979. He returned to Illinois-Chicago as the head coach in 1982, leading the Flames to six Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoff appearances. He was named the CCHA Coach of the Year in 1986-87.

Belmonte holds a bachelor's degree from Illinois-Chicago and a master of education degree from North Dakota.

For over 20 years DHR International has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 50 wholly-owned offices spanning the globe. DHR's renowned consultants specialize in all industries and functions in order to provide unparalleled senior-level executive search, management assessment and succession planning services tailored to the unique qualities and specifications of our select client base. For more information on DHR International, visit www.dhrinternational.com.

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 5,600 full-time undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students in 51 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs of study in its School of Business, School of Communications, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, School of Law, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Professional Studies. Quinnipiac consistently ranks among the top universities with master's programs in the Northern region in U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges. The 2009 issue of U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges named Quinnipiac as the top up-and-coming school with master's programs in the North. Quinnipiac also is recognized in Princeton Review's The Best 368 Colleges. For more information, please visit www.quinnipiac.edu.