New Athletics Director Dr. John Planek Shares Game Plan for Enhancing DU Sports

An award-winning athletic administrator with strong ties to the Dominican mission is Dominican University’s new director of intercollegiate athletics. 

Dr. John Planek joined the university last fall with decades of experience behind him, including previous leadership roles at DePaul University, Loyola University of Chicago and St. Ignatius College Prep. 

Planek recently sat down with Dominican Magazine to discuss his goals for DU athletics.

When you arrived, you had a vision of the athletics department enjoying the same excellence and growth that the university is currently experiencing. What are some initiatives you have planned to begin accomplishing this?

The University has enhanced its enrollment in recent years and I think that our athletic department can provide opportunities for students to have a quality athletic experience during their time on our campus. I think that any initiatives that we start will be those that help strengthen the university and its mission. 

We plan to enhance our cross country and running programs by adding track to our offerings. We also will be studying the feasibility of adding additional athletic opportunities based upon student interest. Additionally, we will look to establish partnerships in and around our campus. We recently hosted an all-Dominican girl’s high school basketball game between Fenwick and Trinity High Schools, which was very well-received. We hosted the River Forest Park District’s grammar school basketball championships, as we have recently partnered with them, and we look to study some additional partnerships with Oak Park and River Forest High School, Concordia University and Fenwick High School related to facility sharing.

On campus, we initiated a True Blue Friday spirit apparel wearing day. We wanted to have a common experience for faculty, staff and students that could be a symbolic way for promoting the university colors and athletics. This initiative has been really well-received. The winners each week have expressed their enthusiasm and have been really excited about being a True Blue winner.

What are some key goals for yourself and the athletics department?

I think that key goals for the department would be athletic success across all programs. In addition to that, high rates of student retention with healthy rosters on all teams. Hopefully, high rates of retention of quality students will translate to increased graduation rates and student success.

You’ve been a resident of neighboring Oak Park and the surrounding Dominican University community for decades and you’re also deeply connected to our Dominican mission as a fully professed Lay Dominican. What does it mean to you to step into a role that is so close to home? How does being a Lay Dominican uniquely qualify you to serve in this role?

Quite literally it means I will be driving less to get to work! I think if you can have any opportunity to work close to home, it is obviously beneficial. As it relates to the Dominican mission, I don’t think that you need to be a Lay Dominican to serve in this capacity, but I certainly find it beneficial to have a very deep understanding of St. Dominic and his original formation of the order that founded this institution. From that aspect, I would think that I have a deeper understanding and basis of what it means to be Dominican: the integration of prayer, study, community and preaching into one’s life.

Fans of Dominican athletics are always eager for exciting initiatives or potential updates/changes on the horizon. With an eye toward the future, what are some new ideas, updates or plans you can share with Stars fans about what’s ahead?

We just hired a new women’s volleyball coach, a new head cross country and track coach, and a new head women’s basketball coach. We expect these hires will have a significant and immediate impact on the quality of these programs.

What is your personal experience as a student athlete and how do you feel your prior associations with athletics have shaped your life to this point?

I participated in basketball and baseball at Fenwick and played baseball at Illinois Tech. I also have coached baseball and basketball at the high school and youth level, and I officiated baseball and softball at the high school, collegiate,  youth and recreation level for many years. These experiences, along with my decades of being an athletic director, have shaped my career to this point. I really enjoyed competing in athletics and the excitement that it brings. I enjoy seeing athletes grow as competitors and succeed by working hard to develop their skills.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Dominican community?

I want people to say with confidence that the Division III program at Dominican University is a quality one across all offerings. We have work to do to ensure that is a true statement.