Zak Ivkovic - Executive Director

After starting as the CUNY Athletic Conference's part-time Sports Information Director in 1990, Zarko Ivkovic, better known as Zak, has climbed the conference ladder and was promoted to Executive Director of the conference during the summer of 2004. While serving as Interim Executive Director and Associate Director for seven years and being responsible for organizing CUNYAC's 23 championship events, in addition to overseeing a successful public relations effort, he steps into the leadership role that will see the Athletic Conference reach new heights.

His CUNY background suits him well to the new role. He studied Mass Media at Hunter College where he had an outstanding athletic career as an All-Conference selection in soccer for four years. He still holds the school's single season (9) and career (20) shutout marks as a goalkeeper. In his tenure at CUNYAC, Ivkovic has overseen the growth and development of the 15-member campuses and expansion of conference tournaments from 12 to 23. Part of that growth also includes gaining automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Championships in five sports (soccer, women’s volleyball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball) with impending addition of baseball, men’s and women’s tennis.

He has also expanded the radio and television coverage of CUNY sports by instituting a basketball game of the week on CUNY TV as well as overseeing production of monthly highlight show called CUNY Sports Jam. In addition to the television exposure, seven of the CUNY Championships were broadcast live on WNYE radio last season. In 2003, with the collaboration of CSI Athletic Director Harold Merritt, he created the first ever international Goodwill Tour which the conference office will continue to do each summer in a different sport.

Ivkovic has also broadened his own horizons by spending time on several national committees, including the recent appointment onto the prestigious NCAA Division III Championships Committee as well as the Soccer and Basketball Selection Committees.

In addition to his duties at CUNYAC, Ivkovic worked for NBC Sports during the 2004 Athens, 2000 Sydney, 1996 Atlanta (earning an Emmy Award) and 1992 Barcelona Olympics and ESPN / ABC Sports during the 1994 World Cup. He took part in NBC and ESPN’s 1998 Women's and 2002 Men's World Basketball coverage, as usual as international basketball consultant. He has served as the Press Officer for the 2003 Gold Cup Miami Venue and Assistant Venue Chief at the ‘98 Goodwill Games in New York. He also wrote a weekly soccer column for New York Newsday for five years.

Aside from sports and current events, the Cleveland High School graduate loves to travel - having visited over 30 countries. He also finds time to coach the Asphalt Green youth soccer team in Manhattan and serve on the Executive Board of both the Circle of Hope Children's Foundation and the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League. He still plays competitive soccer with Istria Sport Club. Born in Yugoslavia, Ivkovic is single and currently resides in the Ridgewood section of Queens, NY.