Amy Folan - Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Amy Folan

Title:
Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics
E-Mail Address:
Phone:
(989) 774-3041
Year at CMU:
6th year at CMU
Hometown:
Portland, Maine
Alma Mater/Year:
Connecticut/1996
Experience:
31st year

Amy Folan begins her sixth year as Central Michigan's Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics. Appointed to her post on October 5, 2020, Folan’s hallmark leadership, direction, and overall coordination of Central Michigan’s comprehensive NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program has left an impressive impact on CMU that will endure for years to come.

Since her arrival, Folan has championed a variety of new initiatives for the department including launching the largest-ever athletics campaign Maroon & Gold BOLD of $25 million in April of 2024, currently achieving $19 million to end in 2026. Folan initiated a three-year partnership with MyMichigan Health valued at over $5 million to the university which enhanced overall health care and services to all of its sports programs. For the student-athlete experience enhanced mental health and wellness services, expansion of community service activities and leadership development, the establishment of an NIL program, along with an increased social media footprint.

With an extensive fundraising background, Folan has helped CMU set records for athletics fundraising in cash annual giving, total giving, and total commitments, while also securing important business partnerships in the Mount Pleasant community and beyond. The 2024-25 academic year ranked as the best-ever fundraising year in Central Michigan Athletics as the department raised $10.2 million. Folan has quadrupled the number of seven figure gifts procured by athletics since her arrival and completed two $1 million-plus fundraising campaigns for facility upgrades.

Additionally, other external units have grown exponentially under Folan’s direction, including setting department records for ticket revenue in 2024-25, setting the single-game revenue mark during the 2024-25 men’s basketball season and increasing student engagement by more than 20 percent in football and 30 percent in basketball. Social media followers increased by over 100,000 since 2022. Overall, home football attendance has increased nearly 22 percent since 2019.

On the academic front, CMU continues to thrive under Folan as the Chippewas have registered 53 consecutive semesters of an overall athletic department grade point average of 3.0 or better. CMU has also made strides on the facilities front as numerous sports programs have had playing surface upgrades, locker room renovation, and overall facility enhancements.

In the summer of 2021, she launched the men’s golf program, making CMU one of the few universities in the nation to add a varsity sport over the last five years. Her first head coaching hire was men’s basketball coach Tony Barbee in 2021 and has since hired women’s basketball coach Kristin Haynie, a former CMU assistant coach in 2023, football coach Matt Drinkall in 2024. She also hired two former Chippewa student-athletes in baseball (Jake Sabol in 2023) and wrestling (Ben Bennett in 2024). In all she has hired 10 of CMU’s coaches.

On a national level, Folan has also made her mark. In October 2022, Folan was appointed to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. In addition, she is also a member of the LEAD1 Association Board of Directors, whose mission is advocating on policy facing NCAA Division I FBS athletic departments, promoting consensus among FBS athletic directors, and providing valuable services to member schools, all dedicated toward supporting the success of student-athletes and the future of college sports.

In Central Michigan’s most recent 2024-25 academic year, the Chippewas captured the MAC gymnastics title for the third time in the previous four years. Three student-athletes won or shared individual MAC titles including track & field’s Emily Paupore (3,000-meter steeplechase), Hannah Appleget (gymnastics all-around), and Luciana Alvarado Reid (gymnastics floor exercise). Folan hired three new coaches in the sports of football (Matt Drinkall), men’s basketball (Andy Bronkema), and volleyball (Arielle Wilson).

The 2023-24 academic year saw Central Michigan win Mid-American Conference championships in wrestling and lacrosse (regular season). Four student-athletes either won or shared individual MAC titles as Alex Cramer claimed the 174-pound wrestling title, Emily Paupore won CMU’s first individual women’s cross country title, and gymnasts Luciana Alvarado-Reid (uneven bars) and Hallie Hornbacher (floor) secured respective MAC titles. Legendary head wrestling coach Tom Borrelli retired and was replaced by his long-time assistant Ben Bennett.

In 2022-23, CMU Athletics manufactured some fantastic moments as the gymnastics and lacrosse teams captured their second consecutive MAC titles, lacrosse advanced to its second straight NCAA Tournament, wrestling added a MAC West title, and three student-athletes won individual conference titles. Six Chippewa teams finished among the top-4 programs in conference play. CMU also brought back the famous Toilet Paper Toss for its men’s basketball game against Western Michigan in late January. Kristin Haynie (women’s basketball) and Jake Sabol (baseball) were brought on as head coaches in their respective sports.

In Folan’s second year at CMU in 2021-22, Chippewa Athletics produced remarkable results, including the football team's historic Sun Bowl victory, the baseball team's Mid-American Conference Tournament championship and third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the gymnastics team's MAC title, and the lacrosse program captured its first MAC championship and earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Individually, two CMU student-athletes were selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, three Chippewas were taken in the top eight rounds in the Major League Baseball draft, and CMU's Matt Stencel became the first five-time MAC wrestling champion. She also hired CMU field hockey head coach Jennifer Johnstone and lacrosse coach Emilia Ward.

In her first year at CMU, the department had a successful campaign despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. The baseball program won the Mid-American Conference regular season title and advanced to the regional finals in the NCAA Tournament. The women’s basketball team won the MAC Tournament and made its third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Kevin Jennings was hired as the men’s golf coach.

Folan arrived at Central Michigan with an extensive administrative background in intercollegiate athletics with a special focus on fundraising and compliance. She served for 17 years at the University of Texas at Austin. From 2012-20, she was the university’s executive senior associate athletics director, overseeing the Longhorn Foundation, the fundraising arm of Texas Athletics, and the Texas Athletics ticket office. In addition, she supported the athletics director with special projects and strategic initiatives, including various daily business operations.

Under Folan’s leadership, the Longhorn Foundation recorded six of the most successful fundraising years in its history. In 2019, the foundation boasted its largest membership and annual fund total since its inception, with a total production of $116.5 million.

Folan joined Texas Athletics in 2002 as the assistant athletics director for compliance. She subsequently served as associate athletics director for compliance and sports programs and as the associate athletics director for administration and sports programs.

Prior to joining Texas, Folan held roles with the NCAA and the University of Georgia.

A former president and board member of the National Association of Athletics Compliance, Folan also served as a member of the Fellows Program of the Division 1A Athletics Directors Association and currently serves on the executive committee of the Sports Management Institute.

Folan holds a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences from the University of Connecticut, where she earned four letters as a member of the Huskies’ women’s soccer team. She earned a master’s degree in sport management from Georgia.

Folan and her husband, Joseph, have two children, Anelio and Giada.

THE AMY FOLAN FILE

Date hired at Central Michigan: October 5, 2020
Birthdate: January 25
Hometown: Portland, Maine

Administrative Career
Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics, Central Michigan University, 2020-current
Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director, University of Texas, 2012-20
Associate Athletic Director for Administration and Sports Programs, University of Texas
Associate Athletic Director, Compliance and Sports Programs, University of Texas
Assistant Athletic Director, Compliance, University of Texas, 2002
Membership Services Representative, National Collegiate Athletic Association, 1999-02
Assistant Director for Compliance, University of Georgia, 1997-99

Education
Bachelor of Arts, Communication Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1996
Master of Science, Sport Management, University of Georgia, 1997

Family: Husband Joseph, children Anelio and Giada