Northwestern promotes Mike Polisky to athletic director

Northwestern promoted Mike Polisky to athletic director to succeed Jim Phillips, the school announced Monday morning.

Polisky had been Northwestern’s deputy athletic director for external affairs since 2010. Previously, he was president and general manager of the Arena Football League’s Chicago Rush and president of business operations for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

Phillips took the ACC commissioner job in December and finished his time at Northwestern in February.

The school’s search for a replacement was delayed as it investigated a federal lawsuit filed by a former cheerleader who named Polisky as one of four defendants, as well as the university. Northwestern filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit Friday.

Hayden Richardson claims she and her teammates were “presented as sex objects” at numerous events, including football tailgates, and were forced to interact with drunk and belligerent fans for the university’s financial gain. Some were sexually harassed on numerous occasions while wearing their Northwestern uniforms, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint states that Polisky accused Richardson of fabricating her claims and didn’t allow her to meet with Phillips.