TROY, N.Y. – A former account executive with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, Sachiko Ena Vines, has been named associate athletic director of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it was announced recently by the institute’s associate vice president and director of athletics, Dr. Kristie Bowers.
“Sachi made an immediate impact on me with my arrival at RPI,” Bowers said. “I am eager to see her thrive in this elevated role bringing synergy to two areas of our department that positively influence our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans.”
Vines will be working in the areas of marketing and communications.
Born in Hacienda Heights, she is the daughter of Sylvia Ena and the late Yoshitaka Ena.
From 2006 to 2009, Vines worked as an account executive for the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche organizations. She served as an account executive for the L.A. Clippers from 2003 to 2006, booking halftime and court-time events for groups and scheduling meetings and tours of the Staples Center for potential individual and corporate clients.
In addition, she sold event suites, group tickets and all-season ticket packages while increasing sales by over $25,000 in her first three months with the organization.
Vines began her career working for Washington Sports and Entertainment/MCI Center, where she acted as the marketing point person for the MCI Center and the Patriot Center for the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics for two years. She also served as the marketing facilitator for the Georgetown University men’s basketball team.
Her connection to the sports world began when she attended the University of Denver, where she was a four-year standout on the gymnastics team. A captain in her senior season, she was ranked 13th nationally as an individual gymnast, while the team was ranked 15th in the nation in 2000.
A two-time team Most Valuable Player, she was also a two-time Coaches Award for Excellence recipient and the Most Improved Player twice during her career.
She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology.