Director, Event Operations
Indiana University - Athletics
Connect with Diane:
dcassimi@iu.edu
BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPORTS ADMINISTRATORS:
Having come up through the ranks of collegiate athletics, Diane’s passion for the industry and optimism for the future, despite the current NIL uncertainties, is fueled by her love for both what she does and who she is able to develop along the way. Having stints in Iowa, Western Illinois, Adelphi and NYU before arriving at IU’s campus, Diane has overseen events small to large.
In her first internship at Iowa Sports Management she fell in love with events and got a crash course in running facilities. She remembers learning so much about how to navigate the unexpected, recalling when the power went out during an event and seeing how the admin remained calm and guided the team through the moment of crisis. Ironically, the same thing happened under Diane’s watch a few years later and she was equipped to handle it flawlessly.
Diane’s leadership style is fueled by learning, growing and guiding the next generation of leaders. Diane meets regularly with her interns and challenges them to one personal goal, one short-term goal and one long-term goal, then checks in to make sure they are progressing.
BEYOND THE EVENTS:
A proud boy-mom of two young sons, she loves sharing the campus life with her family and giving them incredible experiences and memories.
“It’s okay to be uncomfortable” is her mantra as she challenges herself to grow personally and professionally, trying new things and making moves with her family by her side.
During the downtime she’s jet setting the world, showing her kids different cultures and making memories away from technology to instill the importance of real-life interactions and play in their family dynamic. Most recently visiting Trinidad where her husband is from, they watched leatherback sea turtles in their natural environment and enjoyed the peacefulness of nature.
Events: NCAA Football, MBB, WBB, BSB, SB, VB, Soccer
Industry Years: 12
Energized by: Inspiring & growing intern teams
Mentored by: Paula Jantz; Dominic Ciaccia; Earlston Bean; among others.
Excited about: Each day being different & unique in this industry, no two days are the same.
QUICK FACTS: