Rochelle vacating UA post

Arkansas Razorback Foundation director Sean Rochelle of Fayetteville and Judy Henry of Little Rock at the first Touchdown Club luncheon of the 2013 program featuring UA Coach Bret Bielema at the Marriott.
Arkansas Razorback Foundation director Sean Rochelle of Fayetteville and Judy Henry of Little Rock at the first Touchdown Club luncheon of the 2013 program featuring UA Coach Bret Bielema at the Marriott.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Sean Rochelle wasn't looking to go anywhere.

The Elkins native enjoyed his job as executive director of the Razorback Foundation, leading the fund-raising efforts for Arkansas athletics.

"I don't even have a resume," Rochelle said. "I had zero desire to leave my job or do anything else, but sometimes things come around unexpectedly that just work out."

Rochelle, 48, announced Thursday that he is resigning from the Razorback Foundation effective Sept. 1 to become executive director of Vold Vision, a private business in Fayetteville providing all forms of eye care.

"It was really, really difficult to come to a final decision to leave the foundation," Rochelle said. "It's been emotional and it's been draining, but I know it's the right thing.

"I don't want to look back and say I was afraid to take a great opportunity. That's why I'm doing this."

Four years after Rochelle recruited Dr. Steven Vold to join the Razorback Foundation, Vold recruited Rochelle over the past two weeks to help him grow his company.

"The idea is to take what Dr. Vold has created with his group at Vold Vision and do that in other parts of the state and region," Rochelle said.

It's a bold move for Rochelle, whose previous work experience involves college athletics.

"When Dr. Vold approached me, it came out of the blue, but the more we talked, the more I thought about it and the more excited I became about a new opportunity and a new challenge," Rochelle said. "The most important thing is I'll be able to stay in this area. I moved back here to raise my family, so I had no designs on leaving Northwest Arkansas."

Rochelle said being able to travel less and spend more time with his wife and three daughters figured into his decision.

"I've got three girls under 9 years old, and I need to carve out more time for them," he said. "When you have 40 Razorback Club events a year, they're all great, but you're not home as much."

Rochelle has been at the Razorback Foundation since 2008 when he was an associate director. He was promoted to executive director in 2013.

"It's been a great ride and I've been really fortunate to be with a lot of great people here," Rochelle said. "We've been able to do a lot of great things together."

Razorback Foundation Chairman Ken Mourton and Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long praised Rochelle in a news release.

"Sean assembled a great team that works well together and has taken the Razorback Foundation to the next level," Mourton said. "The success of the athletics program is clearly beneficial to the Razorback Foundation. Conversely, a strong membership and the continued success of the Razorback Foundation is critical to the success of Razorback Athletics.

"Sean did an excellent job in leading the foundation and his replacement will certainly have big shoes to fill. We hate to lose him, but we wish him the absolute best in his new professional opportunity."

Long said Rochelle provided valuable insight in helping the Razorback Foundation become a more comprehensive fundraising organization.

Rochelle expressed his gratitude to Mourton and Long but added that he owes the most to his staff at the Razorback Foundation and the members.

Under Rochelle's leadership, the Razorback Foundation set records for membership (more than 14,500) and annual funds raised ($47 million).

Rochelle said he's especially proud that more than 3,000 Arkansas students are current Razorback Foundation members under a new plan.

"Sean has done a great job here in every respect," said Norm DeBriyn, Arkansas' former baseball coach and a Razorback Foundation associate director. "He's very smart, he looks at all the angles. He's an Arkansas guy who relates to everyone."

Marvin Caston, a former Arkansas linebacker and Razorback Foundation associate director, said Rochelle did a good job of fostering a family atmosphere.

"It's been a pleasure and a joy to work with Sean," Caston said. "You could count on consistency in terms of what his vision was for growing our organization. He gave us the resources we needed to be successful."

Rochelle played quarterback at Arkansas-Monticello and earned his bachelor's degree from UAM, then earned master's and doctorate's degrees from Arkansas. He was a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas and Clemson for Ken Hatfield, defensive coordinator at UAM and worked in the exercise and sport science department at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California.

Rochelle then was an assistant director for development for Arkansas' men's and women's athletics before moving to the Razorback Foundation.

"I've loved coming to work here every single day," Rochelle said. "The world isn't perfect, but there wasn't a day I didn't enjoy coming down here and being part of this staff."

Rochelle said he's not sure who the Razorback Foundation board will hire as his replacement. John Matsko has been senior associate director since 2013.

"It's all come about so quickly," Rochelle said. "I think it'll take some time for everybody to get on the same page and go forward. It will probably unfold over the next month or so."

Sports on 07/31/2015

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