SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University has announced that John Ottoboni's role as Deputy Athletic Director/Special Advisor will conclude on June 30, 2025. 
 
A member of the class of 1969, Ottoboni was elected by the University's Board of Trustees as its first Recent Alumnus Trustee in 1969 - a role in which he served for six years. He returned to the Board of Trustees in 1993 and served as a Trustee until his appointment as the University's outside General Counsel in 2001. 
 
In 2007, Ottoboni was appointed by Father Locatelli as the University's first in-house General Counsel and served in the role until 2018 when he was asked to accept a three-year appointment as the University's first Chief Operating Officer. Upon completion of that appointment, he then became Senior Counsel and Special Advisor to the Board of Trustees. 
 
"In my short time working with John, I quickly learned that when you need sage counsel, John is your person," said Santa Clara Director of Athletics, Heather M. Owen. "On a daily basis, John demonstrates and reminds us what it means to be a great teammate - he is selfless, he is always willing to lend a hand, and he approaches his work and others with the utmost respect. I wish to thank John for his unwavering support of me in my role as athletics director and for his dedicated service to Santa Clara University."
 
Raised in San Francisco, Ottoboni has been with Santa Clara University in some capacity for over 60 years. During his time working with athletics, he played a major role in the implementation of the Blue Ribbon Commission Report, which successfully helped align Santa Clara Athletics with the University in an effort to raise the visibility of intercollegiate athletics both on and off campus.