Bio

Joel Isaacson was named the Senior Associate Athletic Director at Michigan Tech in May 2020. He was previously the Associate Athletic Director for External Relations (2013-20) and the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Operations (2005-13).

In his current role, Isaacson provides oversight of all facility operations of the Student Development Complex, John MacInnes Student Ice Arena, Kearly Stadium, Gates Tennis Center, and Tech Trails.

Isaacson has served full-time in the athletic department for 21 years — the first four as Equipment Manager. He became Operations Manager and also took on NCAA compliance responsibilities in 2005. All told, Isaacson has a 25-year resume in the Michigan Tech athletics department since he served as manager for the hockey team while a student. He graduated with a degree in management information systems from Michigan Tech in 2001.

A veteran of numerous NCAA, conference, and university committees, Isaacson served as the chair of the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee and other GLIAC committees. He was also a part of NCAA Regional Advisory Committees for women's soccer and women's tennis.

Isaacson received Michigan Tech's Clair M. Donovan Award in April 2019 for his diligent work and leadership of the Incident Command Team during the 2018 Father's Day Flood.

Isaacson also served as the Project Manager on Michigan Tech’s Flex Task Force which planned, implemented and adjusted the university’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Isaacson volunteered his time as the Equipment Manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. He served on teams that claimed six titles, including one Paralympic gold medal (2014), three world championships (2012, 2015, 2019), two World Sled Hockey Challenge titles (2012, 2015) as well as the 2013 USA Hockey Sled Cup, 2016 IPC Pan-Pacific Championship and 2018 Turin Para Ice Hockey International Tournament.

Isaacson resides in Dollar Bay, Michigan, with his wife Katie, and children, Aidan, Kiera, and Lucy.