Oakland University Athletics

John Ciszewski is the Coordinator of Athletics Special Projects and Initiatives, where he supports donor stewardship, serves as the liaison to the online merchandise store, oversees Through the Eyes feature stories and Full Court Press, and assists with various other special projects, initiatives, and events within the athletics department.

Ciszewski joined the Oakland University Athletic Department in April 2019 as the Associate Athletic Director for External Operations after spending four decades working for the Detroit Red Wings/Olympia Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons/Palace Sports and Entertainment. 
 
Prior to Oakland, Ciszewski was the Senior Vice President of Sales for the Detroit Red Wings and Olympia Entertainment and oversaw all aspects of ticket sales for the Red Wings and Olympia Entertainment held at Little Caesars Arena (LCA). He also served on the leadership committee for marketing, communications, digital media and branding for the Detroit Red Wings.
 
Prior to the opening of LCA, Ciszewski was heavily involved in the design and programming of the premium areas and the season ticket relocation process associated with the transition to the new arena.
 
Before joining the Red Wings and Olympia Entertainment, Ciszewski served as the Executive Vice President of Sales for Palace Sports and Entertainment and headed the department that kept the Detroit Pistons atop the NBA's attendance rankings and made DTE Energy Music Theatre one of the nation's leading outdoor amphitheaters. 
 
During his tenure with Olympia Entertainment and Palace Sports and Entertainment, Ciszewski secured a combined six NCAA basketball events and played an integral role in bringing the Horizon League men's and women's basketball Motor City Madness tournament to Detroit.
 
Ciszewski spent 32 years with Palace Sports and Entertainment and his sales team is credited with many milestones, including seven consecutive years of leading the 32-team NBA in paid ticket sales, 622 sellouts in the first 20 years of the Palace and sellout streaks of 245 and 259 games, respectively. Additionally, Ciszewski and his staff developed several customer service initiatives that have become commonplace in the professional sports landscape.

Ciszewski and his wife Denise have five daughters and reside in Lake Orion, Mich. Originally from Shadyside, Ohio, he has a bachelor's degree from Bethany College in West Virginia and a master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University.