Jared Orazio And Mikayla Place Join University of Bridgeport Athletics Staff

Bridgeport, Conn.-University of Bridgeport Director of Athletics Anthony Vitti welcomed two members to the UB Department of Athletics today with the addition of Jared Orazio, as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Game Day Operations and Facilities, plus Mikayla Place, as the Purple Knights' head women's lacrosse coach.

Orazio joins the Bridgeport staff from the University of New Haven where he served as the Chargers' Graduate Assistant for Event Management and Facilities since August of 2016, and Place replaces interim head coach Kate Smullen, after serving on the team's coaching staff last season.  Smullen remains as Bridgeport's Associate Athletic Director for Business/Senior Woman Administrator.

"I'm excited to welcome Jared to our University of Bridgeport Athletics family and to be able to promote Mikayla to head coach, stated Vitti.  Both are excellent young professionals who will help keep our department moving in the right direction, as Jared gained a great deal of experience working in a fine program at UNH, and Mikayla learned a great deal assisting with our program and coach Smullen last season.  Her familiarity with the team will be a great asset to the program"

A 2015 graduate of University of New Haven with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Master of Business Administration in 2017, Orazio was a standout member of the Chargers' football team earning All-Conference, All-Region and All-America accolades plus serving as team captain in 2015 during his standout career.  Along with working in event management and facilities administration, Jared also gained experience at New Haven serving as the Interim Equipment Manager from March-June 2016 plus assisting with external and business affairs.

A 2016 graduate of St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Place was a four-year standout on the lacrosse field for the Bonnies leading the team in points for three straight seasons and serving as team captain her junior and senior years.  She finished her career ranked number three on the school's career assist list and number eight in career points plus number seven in single-season assists.

Along with her lacrosse duties, Mikayla, who is working on a Masters of Business Administration at Bridgeport, will also assist in UB's Office of Sports Information.