IRVINE, Calif. -- UC Irvine Athletic Director Paula Smith has announced that Erica Monteabaro has been hired as a Senior Associate Athletic Director, Student Services, bringing her extensive background in NCAA Compliance and NCAA Governance to the Anteaters. Her appointment will begin in May.

"Erica's wealth of knowledge is unmatched and her understanding of the inner workings of athletics is widespread," Smith said.

In her position, she will oversee Compliance, Academics as well as have sports supervision.  She will also serve as the department's Senior Woman Administrator. 

Monteabaro is no stranger to UC Irvine as she has work the last 20 years at the Big West Conference office. Most recently she served as the Senior Associate Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator. She oversaw the conference's compliance services and was the primary rules interpreter and coordinated the conference's rules education program. Monteabaro also served as the conference's NCAA and Big West Conference governance specialist. She was on the Division I Legislative Council and was the primary staff liaison to all of the conference's NCAA governance appointees, while maintaining the Conference's Constitution and Bylaws.

In addition, Monteabaro also served as the primary conference office administrator for numerous conference sports while also acting as the primary liaison for the Conference's Faculty Athletics Representatives, Senior Woman Administrators and the Athletic Trainers. 

She is currently serving as a member of the NCAA Division I Accelerating Academic Success Program Grant Committee and the Division I External Education Advisory Committee. 

Monteabaro served as an intern in the conference office for two summers before taking on the full-time position. She also worked in the UCSB athletic department and at Antelope Valley College.

Monteabaro graduated with highest honors from UC Santa Barbara in 2000 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics.