GCU Athletics

Dan Sempkowski was officially named Director of Athletics on June 6^th, 2022, after serving in the interim role since January of 2022.

"Dan Sempkowski has a vision for Athletics that will integrate the program seamlessly within the campus life of Georgian Court," stated University Provost, Dr. Janice Warner. "He has already developed an active partnership with Student Life, Academics, Enrollment, and Advancement. I am confident that he will continue the Lions' tradition of excellence, while maintaining Athletics' presence on the national forefront through the relentless support of student-focused coaches and staff."

Since taking over, he has guided Georgian Court to great heights on the field, in the classroom and the community. Georgian Court won the prestigious Fall 2022 HelperHelper TeamWorks Challenge Award for the most service hours in Division II. In the classroom, the Lions excelled with 129 CACC All-Academic selections, 54 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and an Academic All-American during his time at the helm of GCU Athletics. 

On the field, the Lions captured CACC Championships in Softball (2022), Women's Lacrosse (2022), Men's and Women's Outdoor Track (2022), Men's Cross Country (2022), Men's Lacrosse regular season (2023), and the Men's ECC Indoor Track and Field Championship in 2023). He also oversaw the additions of Acrobatics and Tumbling and Baseball. 

As Georgian Court Director of Athletics, Sempkowski serves on numerous NCAA and CACC committees. He is a member of the NCAA Volleyball Regional Advisory Committee, the CACC Membership Committee and the CACC Hall of Fame Committee. 

Prior to taking over as the Director of Athletics, Coach Sempkowski served as head coach of the Georgian Court University volleyball program for 11 seasons. Sempkowski finished his coaching tenure with a record of 201-143, the winningest coach in the history of the program. He led the Lions to a pair of CACC Championships in 2013 and 2019 and NCAA appearances. Over the course of 11 seasons, the Lions won 20 or more games six times, with a high of 30 coming in 2019. 
 
During the 2014 season, Sempkowski was awarded the 30 for 30 Award by the AVCA, which selects the top volleyball coaches under the age of 30, in the United States.
 
Previously, Sempkowski served as an assistant coach to the men's volleyball program at Ramapo College of New Jersey. During his tenure, the team won a share of the Skyline regular-season title with a conference record of 13-1 and an ECAC crown. A Ramapo alumnus himself, Sempkowski spent four years with the Roadrunners from 2006-2009, before graduating in 2009 with a degree in economics and a minor in political science.
 
From 2009-2011, Sempkowski served as a graduate assistant coach for the men's and women's volleyball teams at Missouri Valley College. Sempkowski coached the MAMVIC Libero of the Year in 2011 and 10 all-conference players over the two years, while playing a vital role in the drastic improvement of both squads.
 
During his tenure as a student-athlete, Sempkowski helped lead Ramapo to 105 victories overall, including 35 in the NECVA Metro conference. Highlights from Sempkowski's career included winning the regular NECVA Metro season in 2009 by going 9-0 on the year, making four straight appearances in the NECVA Post-Season Championship Tournament, and winning the ECAC South Championship in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, the Roadrunners advanced to the semi-finals of the NECVA Championship Tournament with a stunning 3-2 victory over conference rival, Stevens Tech. In 2009, the Roadrunners hosted the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championships, the first appearance by Ramapo in the program's history, peaking at a #5 national ranking during the season.
 
Coach Sempkowski finished his career with 857 digs which is fourth on the all-time leader board, while appearing in over 360 games. He was named team’s most improved player in 2007 while serving as a captain to the team for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He was a member of SAAC, the finance club, and the college's dean's list. After the completion of his senior year, he was named the Ramapo College Scholar Athlete, for having the top GPA in the athletic department, and the top economics graduate, also based on GPA in the program. As a high school athlete, Sempkowski won back to back state championships in 2003 and 2004 with two all-state selections. His 2004 team finished with a perfect 30-0 record.
 
Sempkowski continues to operate the Shore Volleyball Academy, coordinating indoor and beach volleyball programs at the Jersey Shore. He has also assisted with USA Volleyball High Performance Tryouts and Developmental Camps. In 2014, Sempkowski helped start the Great American Volleyball Juniors Beach Club. The GAV program has now grown to over 600 athletes (200 at beach locations). Sempkowski helped start the "Stars & Stripes" year-round beach travel team with GAV, a program considered to be the top beach program in the northeast with beach volleyball-focused athletes. On occasion, he still competes in both professional and semi-professional beach volleyball tournaments, including the AVP, Toyota Pro Beach East, Great American Volleyball, and East End Volleyball Tours.
 
He currently resides in Manahawkin, NJ with his wife, Katie, and sons, Chase, Colton and Caden.