Pitt is about to embark on a $35 million construction and renovation project of its Olympic sports facilities. Now the athletic department has someone with big project experience to oversee the development.

Athletic director Jeff Long hired Paul Klaczak yesterday as an associate athletic director for business development, facilities and special projects. A Pittsburgh native, Klaczak was hired because he has experience in managing a similar project at another Big East school.

Klaczak comes to Pitt from Cincinnati, where he was an associate athletic director and project leader for the Bearcats' $112 million varsity village, an array of athletic fields and complexes built on the Cincinnati campus.

Pitt recently purchased land near its campus where new athletic fields and buildings will be constructed. Pitt is building a soccer complex, track/intramural complex, softball field, marching band facility and baseball complex. The athletic department also will spend $11.4 million to renovate Fitzgerald Field House, Trees Hall and the Cost Sports Center.

"Having spent five years at Cincinnati and overseeing that from start to finish, to fill in the pieces in terms of support and structure, I have a lot of experience from that standpoint," Klaczak said.

"Here, it is very similar. I'm here to provide our men and women with the tools they need to have a well-rounded experience. This is a great opportunity."

Klaczak won't need long to familiarize himself with his surroundings. He grew up on Frazier Street in Oakland and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1982. He grew up around Pitt athletics as well. An uncle was a member of the grounds crew at old Pitt Stadium.

After graduating from Central Catholic, Klaczak went on to Marietta College in Ohio. He earned a Master's degree in sports management from Robert Morris in 1988.

Klaczak had been employed at Cincinnati since 1989. He served first as an administrative intern, coordinator of facilities and summer camps and director of ticket operations before being promoted to associate athletic director for operations in 1998.

"This is a homecoming for me," Klaczak said. "I'm looking forward to getting my family here and becoming a part of the fabric of this community."