Gerald J. “Jerry” Oravitz has served in the University of Delaware athletics program since 1997, including the last four years as Director of Football Operations for the nationally-ranked Blue Hen program.
In addition to his duties as Director of Football Operations and Delaware Stadium game operations and has increased responsibilitie, Oravitz also assists with special projects and fundraising projects within the unit.
He was named Director of Football Operations in January, 2005, by University of Delaware head football coach K.C. Keeler.
Oravitz, a 1984 graduate of Salisbury (Md.) University, is responsible for managing the day-to-day administrative operations of the football program which includes providing support to student-athletes with university matters, budget management, coordinating on campus recruiting needs, and organizing community projects and relations.
Oravitz is also is responsible for coordinating football practice and gameday needs, home and away game management, team travel, and assisting Keeler with program fund-raising events and other football program projects. Additionally he organizes the annual Rich Gannon Blue Hen Football Golf Classic, the premier fundraising event for UD football.
Oravitz, 45, earned his degree in physical education, recreation, and leisure studies from Salisbury in 1984 and received his master’s degree in human services administration from Springfield (Mass.) College in 1998.
Oravitz also completed the Sports Management Institute Executive Program sponsored by the University of Notre Dame and the University of Texas in January, 2004.
He served a graduate internship with the University of Delaware athletics department during the spring of 1997.
While at Delaware, Oravitz has served as Tournament Director for the America East Baseball, Indoor Track & Field, and Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse championships hosted by Delaware. He also served as Tournament Director for the 2003 NCAA I-AA Football postseason committee and served on previous football postseason committees. Additionally, Oravitz is a board member of the American Football Coaches Association Director of Football Operations committee.
Oravitz also serves as an instructor in the UD Sports Management curriculum, which began in September, 2002.
A former first team all-state baseball and All-Catholic League basketball player at St. Elizabeth’s High School in Wilmington, Del., Oravitz was a four-year starter in baseball at Virginia Wesleyan and Salisbury. He served as team co-captain at Virginia Wesleyan in 1983.
He worked with the City of Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation as a superintendent and program director from 1987 until 2003. In 1991 he was promoted to superintendent of the William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center. Most recently, Oravitz served as the first unit director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Newark in 1993-97.
Oravitz remains active in the community serving as a board director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Newark and the Delaware High School Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game.
In 2006, Oravitz assisted head coach K.C. Keeler and his wife, Janice, with the Boys and Girls Clubs and their annual One Campaign which exceeded the goal of $750,000 by raising over $762,000.
Oravitz and his wife, Teresa, a 1979 graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, reside in Bear, Del.
Director of Football Operations Jerry Oravitz