Andy Wasynczuk
Encyclopedia
Andrew Wasynczuk is a senior lecturer of business administration for Harvard Business School
. He served as Chief Operating Officer
and Senior Vice President for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
, where he oversaw Foxboro Stadium
and the building of its successor Gillette Stadium
, while also helping to administer the NFL salary cap
for the team in the 1990s.
In 1979, Wasynczuk graduated from the Case Institute of Technology
with a bachelor's degree
and master's degree
in electrical engineering
. After that, Wasynczuk earned his MBA
from Harvard Business School in 1983 before working as a consultant at Bain & Company
, where he met Boston businessman Jonathan Kraft
. In January 1989, he was hired by Kraft's father, then-Foxboro Stadium
owner Robert Kraft
, as the chief operating officer of Foxboro Stadium Associates.
When Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994
, Wasynczuk, who was named the team's vice president of business operations, was called upon by Kraft to negotiate high-profile player contracts and develop salary cap management strategies. In 1999
, he was promoted to chief operating officer/senior vice president while his responsibilities were expanded to include the oversight for the construction of CMGI Field
, which opened in 2002
, although he did not retain salary cap responsibilities upon the hiring of head coach Bill Belichick
and player personnel director Scott Pioli
in 2000
.
In February 2005, Wasynczuk left the Patriots to return to Harvard Business School as a business administration lecturer, while also remaining a consultant for The Kraft Group
.
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He served as Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
and Senior Vice President for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, where he oversaw Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
and the building of its successor Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution...
, while also helping to administer the NFL salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
for the team in the 1990s.
In 1979, Wasynczuk graduated from the Case Institute of Technology
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. After that, Wasynczuk earned his MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Harvard Business School in 1983 before working as a consultant at Bain & Company
Bain & Company
Bain & Company is a global management consulting firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Bain is considered one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world, with 47 offices in 30 countries and over 5,500 professionals on staff globally...
, where he met Boston businessman Jonathan Kraft
Jonathan Kraft
Jonathan A. Kraft is an American businessman, the president of the New England Patriots, owner/investor of the New England Revolution, and both president and chief operating officer of The Kraft Group...
. In January 1989, he was hired by Kraft's father, then-Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
owner Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
, as the chief operating officer of Foxboro Stadium Associates.
When Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994
1994 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1994 season with a record of ten wins and six losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC East division....
, Wasynczuk, who was named the team's vice president of business operations, was called upon by Kraft to negotiate high-profile player contracts and develop salary cap management strategies. In 1999
1999 New England Patriots season
The 1999 New England Patriots season was the 30th season for the team in the National Football League and 40th season overall. They finished with a 8–8 record, tied for fourth place in the division, and out of the playoffs....
, he was promoted to chief operating officer/senior vice president while his responsibilities were expanded to include the oversight for the construction of CMGI Field
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution...
, which opened in 2002
2002 New England Patriots season
The 2002 New England Patriots season was the 33rd season for the team in the National Football League and 43rd season overall. They finished with a 9–7 record, good enough for second in the division but not a playoff berth....
, although he did not retain salary cap responsibilities upon the hiring of head coach Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
and player personnel director Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots...
in 2000
2000 New England Patriots season
The 2000 New England Patriots season was the 31st season for the team in the National Football League and 41st season overall. They finished with a 5–11 record and in last place in the division....
.
In February 2005, Wasynczuk left the Patriots to return to Harvard Business School as a business administration lecturer, while also remaining a consultant for The Kraft Group
The Kraft Group
The Kraft Group, LLC is a group of privately held companies in the professional sports, manufacturing, and real-estate development industries doing business in 82 countries...
.