After a prolific intercollegiate golfing career, Rick Slifka enters the Youngstown State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
A four-year member of the men's golf team from 1968-71, Slifka finished with a career dual record of 77-12-2 and led the Penguins to an undefeated season in 1970. He was named team captain and completed that season with an average round of 74.5. Slifka also led the Penguins to a fifth-place finish at the 1970 NCAA Golf National Championships and finished 18th to earn third-team All-American honors.
An NCAA College Division All-American in 1971, Slifka tied for 112th at the 1971 NCAA Golf National Championships and finished the 1971 season with an average round of 75.3.
Slifka ended his career with an average round of 75.7.
Slifka's post-intercollegiate athletics vocation, like mairy former YSU student-athletes, has been laden with success.
Slifka earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and, from 1985-91, served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Professional Golfer's Association (PGA) Tour in Jacksonville, Fla. In that position, Slifka was responsible for overseeing the entire sales force and implementing a strategic marketing plan. While with the PGA, Slifka enrolled 647 new members and assisted in the marketing efforts of four different ITC clubs.
He was named the PGA Tour's National Sales Representative of the Year for three consecutive years (1988-90) and generated revenues of $13.3 million at the TPC of Michigan.
In 1992, Slifka moved to Chicago, Ill., to become the National Sales Manager for Kemper Sports.
In 1998, Slifka joined Lyons Pruitt International, Inc., a highly-respected Executive Search firm, as Director of Recruiting. Lyons Pruitt specializes at the senior level in financial services ranging from $60,000 to $2 million.
Slifka attributes much of his athletic and business success to his father, who gave him his first set of golf clubs.
He currently resides in Allentown, Pa., with his wife, Megan. They have two sons, Robert and Thomas, and a daughter, Emily.
