Sept. 16, 2016
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech athletics announced the addition of three new assistant athletics directors on Friday. Chris Breen, a member of Georgia Tech’s athletics staff since 2011, has been promoted to assistant A.D. for academic support services while Elizabeth Lancaster and Lance Markos join the Yellow Jackets as assistant A.D. for events and facilities and assistant A.D. for compliance, respectively.
Breen is in his sixth year at Georgia Tech and 11th year in the academic support services field. He came to Georgia Tech in 2011 as an assistant director of student support services before being promoted to director in 2014. He works directly with Tech’s football student-athletes.
Prior to his arrival on The Flats, Breen spent five years as associate director of academic support for student-athletes at Seton Hall University, where he worked specifically with the Pirates’ men’s basketball program. At Seton Hall, he received the President’s Award for Student Service in 2010.
Breen played linebacker as a football student-athlete at Fordham University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2002. He was a team captain as a senior in 2001 and went on to coach Fordham’s linebackers for two seasons (2002-03). As an assistant coach, he helped lead his alma mater to the Patriot League championship in 2002. He received a master’s degree in counseling from Manhattan College in 2006.
“Chris’ impact within the academic support program for our football student-athletes set the ground work for the vital role he now plays with all sports and student-athletes,” associate A.D. for academic support services Phyllis LaBaw said. “He exemplifies the shared vision of providing a level of support whereby our student-athletes will flourish and backs it by an everyday focus on teamwork, respect, perseverance and honest hard work.”
“I am fortunate to work at a place where I can collaborate with talented team members and work with exceptional student-athletes, year after year. I’m looking forward to continued success for Georgia Tech athletics’ academic support team and leading an unparalleled staff,” Breen said. “Thank you to Phyllis, the entire GTAA student-athlete academic support services team and our administration and coaches for this opportunity and their continued support.”
Lancaster comes to Georgia Tech after four years at the University of North Carolina. She joined the UNC staff as assistant director of event management in 2012 and earned promotions to associate director in 2014 and director in 2016. During her time at North Carolina, she managed and supervised gameday staff for football and Olympic sports, created and produced UNC’s football gameday guide for internal and external staff members and served as tournament director for NCAA championship events in women’s basketball, women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse and field hockey.
She began her professional career as assistant director of sponsorships and marketing for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in 2011-12. In that role, she evaluated potential sites for state championships.
A women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse student-athlete at North Carolina from 2003-07, Lancaster earned bachelor’s (exercise and sports science – 2008) and master’s (exercise and sports science – 2011) degrees from UNC.
“I’m delighted to have someone as talented and knowledgeable as Elizabeth join us at Georgia Tech,” associate A.D. for facilities, operations and events Derek Grice said. “Her experience and approach to event management is going to be a huge asset to our operations moving forward.”
“I would like to thank Derek Grice and the search committee for this incredible opportunity,” Lancaster said. “It is exciting to be a part of an Institute so rich in tradition, and I am looking forward to being a part of its bright future.”
Markos comes to The Flats after spending the past year as the senior director of compliance at the University of Kansas. In that role, he monitored all recruiting, awards and benefits and playing and practice seasons activities for the majority of the Jayhawks’ 17 sports.
Prior to his one-year stint at Kansas, he spent the first 12 years of his professional career at the University of North Carolina, including 11 years as the Tar Heels’ director of compliance. Among his duties at North Carolina were oversight of all activities related to recruiting and initial eligibility, working directly with the ACC on interpretative inquiries and other general matters regarding daily operations, serving as a liaison between UNC coaches and the University’s admissions office and integrating the registrar’s office into the department’s eligibility certification process.
Markos attended the University of Virginia, where he graduated with a B.A. in history (religious studies minor) in 1997. He earned a master’s degree in sport administration from North Carolina in 2004.
“We are very excited to welcome Lance to Georgia Tech,” associate A.D. for compliance Shoshanna Engel said. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our team, and his leadership will be critical to maintaining and strengthening our compliance program and Georgia Tech athletics overall.”
“I am excited for the chance to join the team at Georgia Tech,” Markos said. “I want to thank Shoshanna Engel for this opportunity. I look forward to working alongside the coaches and administrators to provide our student-athletes with a world-class experience.”
