Athletic director Jeff Long announced Tuesday that senior associate athletic director Mike… Athletic director Jeff Long announced Tuesday that senior associate athletic director Mike Pratapas will be leaving the program once the calendar turns to November.

“I am deeply appreciative of the work that Mike has done for Pitt athletics,” Long said in a press release. “He has helped us reshape and restructure our annual giving program and launch our “Quest for Excellence” campaign. His work with our Panther Club staff can already be seen in the increases to our annual fund and gifts to “Quest for Excellence.” I am grateful for how he and our staff handled the challenging expansion of our priority seating program for Heinz Field and the Petersen Events Center.”

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity Jeff Long gave me at the University of Pittsburgh and the confidence he showed in me as we were preparing for the launch of the Quest for Excellence campaign,” Pratapas said on www.pittsburghpanthers.com. “I am proud of the small role I have played in positioning the campaign to be successful, and what that ultimately means for Pitt student-athletes for years to come. I have met many wonderful people who truly love and are committed to this university and its athletic program. It has been a pleasure getting to know and work with all of them for a common cause.”

Pratapas will be joining Pratapas Associates, LLC, a consulting firm based out of Chicago that focuses on fundraising campaigns, special event planning and volunteer and leadership development for non-profit organizations. His brother, Steve, started the firm three years ago and will be taking him on to try to expand the client base of the company both locally and into collegiate athletics.

The goals of consulting are well-oriented with Pratapas’ strengths in the area of fundraising. Since joining Pitt in June of 2004, he has concentrated on fundraising efforts and external affairs for the athletic department.

One of the more noticeable accomplishments during Pratapas’ short stay at Pitt was the athletic department’s launch of “Quest for Excellence,” a program geared toward raising $45 million “as part of a long-term effort to support world-class collegiate athletic facilities and ensure more scholarships for Pitt student-athletes,” as written on Pitt’s athletic Web site. The organization has already raised $13 million.

“When we reach our “Quest for Excellence” goal, it will be in large part due to his guidance in putting our plans in place,” Long said. “Mike is a tremendous fund-raiser and I know he will be successful in his new position.”

“The future is bright for Pitt athletics, and I look forward to remaining in Pittsburgh supporting all Pitt teams as a Panther Club member and fan,” Pratapas said.