Phill Talavinia enters his 27th year at Bluffton University and ninth as the athletics director. He formerly served as the associate athletics director and head athletic trainer before taking his current post. In his first year as athletics director, Talavinia oversaw the implementation of TEAM Bluffton to help raise money for the athletics program. During the 2004-05 academic year, TEAM Bluffton met the first-seas
on goal of $14,000 to help fund new medical and video equipment for the athletics department. TEAM Bluffton has raised well over $65,000 since the beginning for various projects in support of the entire athletics programs.
Talavinia graduated from Anderson University in 1985 with bachelor of arts degrees in athletic training and business management. He is also licensed by the state of Ohio to practice athletic training.
A native of Boston, Pa., he was inducted into the Elizabeth Township Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 for his work in sports medicine. He served as a student assistant at Anderson University and assisted the Chicago Bears athletic training staff for 10 years. Talavinia and his wife, Michelle, a Bluffton University graduate, reside in Bluffton with their five-year-old daughter, Avery.
As athletics director, Talavinia is responsible for all 16 varsity sports at Bluffton. While serving as the athletics director, he helped to spearhead the construction of Bluffton University's Memorial Field (home of the baseball team) and Bluffton Field (the new softball complex). In addition, Talavinia has worked closely with the Bluffton administration to make the updated football/baseball locker room and conference room a reality.
