TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Bob Zelinski, a staple of the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for more than 50 years, passed away Thursday, March 26.

In June 2022, Zelinski retired from the College of Central Florida, where he spent the final 23 years of his career, serving as the Patriots' Director of Athletics. 

Under Zelinski's guidance and leadership, the Patriots enjoyed tremendous success across all sports, highlighted by National Championships in women's tennis (2001) and men's basketball (2013), and national runners-up (2014) and third place (2019) finishes in softball. His teams won six FCSAA Championships – women's tennis, 2001; volleyball, 2012; men's basketball, 2013; softball in 2019 and 2022; and baseball, 2022 – and 28 Mid-Florida Conference Championships.

During his final year in Ocala, Zelinski announced the addition of women's cross country, which debuted in Fall 2022 and will run its fifth season this fall. 

"Bob Zelinski left an indelible mark on both the FCSAA and NJCAA," said Rob Chaney, FCSAA Associate Director and Athletics Commissioner. "We all owe him a tremendous debt of gratitute for helping establish many of the standards that are adhered to today, both athletically and, more importantly, academically. From a personal perspective, Bob helped lay the foundation for many of the day-to-day roles and responsiblities I'm tasked with carrying out on behalf of the FCSAA and its member colleges and to do so with the utmost respect and integrity and with the students' best interest in mind. He was a giant in two-year college athletics and will be sorely missed." 

While Zelinski may be best-known for his tenure at Central Florida, the Miami native spent much of his professional career at Miami Dade College. Beginning in 1971 as aquatics manager at Miami Dade's Kendall Campus, Zelinski rose through the ranks as facility manager, assistant athletics director, faculty member and chair of health, physical education, recreation, dance and athletics. He was recognized as the Outstanding Community College Physical Educator by the Florida Alliance for HPERD, and it was at Dade where Zelinski began to make his mark on the NJCAA, assisting with the direction of 14 volleyball, two men's soccer and two swimming & diving NJCAA Championship events, in addition to multiple FCSAA Championships. 

In 1999, Zelinski moved north to Ocala and immediately began to re-shape the program as Director of Athletics at what was then known as Central Florida Community College. He led the planning to renovate the College's gymnasium into a state-of-the-art facility, which later hosted the FCSAA Basketball Championships from 2014-19, oversaw the renovation of the baseball clubhouse, scoreboards, and netting, and led the renovation and completion of the softball batting cages, scoreboards and field upgrades. 

Zelinski's impact has been felt far beyond the CF campus, as he graciously devoted his time to both the FCSAA and NJCAA. For 18 years, he served as NJCAA Region 8 Men's Director/FCSAA Men's Athletics Commissioner, a role which also placed him on the FCSAA Executive Committee. He was chairperson of the NJCAA Eligibility Committee for 10 years and chaired multiple NJCAA sports committees. 

As a nationally recognized leader in two-year college athletics, Zelinski has received numerous accolades, including the FCSAA Distinguished Service Award, the NJCAA George Killian Outstanding Region Director Award, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Athletic Director of the Year Award for Junior/Community College, and NJCAA Outstanding Service Awards in Swimming & Diving and Men's Tennis. 

Zelinski was a 1998 inductee into the FCSAA Hall of Fame and joined the FCSAA Men's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. He was given the Outstanding Recognition Award from FCSAA Baseball for 25 years of directing its championship event and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award now bears his name. 

What others are saying about Bob Zelinski's legacy

Mike Matulia, retired Director of Athletics, Lake-Sumter State College: "It's a great loss for our state. He influenced my career to the point that I used 'What would Bob do?' as my measuring stick, from the treatment of student-athletes to issues at the national level. His 'tree' of athletic administrators has many branches and I'm one of them."

Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President and CEO: "Mr. Zelinski served decades within the NJCAA, providing constant leadership and dedicated support to the entire membership as chair of the Eligibility Committee. We send our thoughts and prayers to his entire family." 

Tim Ryan, Head Men's Basketball Coach, College of Central Florida (2003-20): "Bob Zelinski was my mentor and friend. He was a great leader and a fantastic boss. Bob gave me my start as a head coach, and I feel lucky to have worked for the best athletic director in the country.  Bob's accomplishments in JUCO sports were many and he was recognized not only with numerous awards but also by the hundreds of calls he received with questions about policy and decision-making from around the country. Bob's programs were successful and he did things the right way. He will be greatly missed."

George Sanders, retired Director of Athletics, Florida SouthWestern State College: "Bob Zelinski was a visionary for two-year college athletics. Within both the FCSAA and the NJCAA, he was both respected and liked for how he put the students and rules first and continuously fought for what was best from an institution-first level. He saw the big picture and did everything in his power to help make sure you saw it, too. The FCSAA and NJCAA are better because of 'Z' and so am I."

Marty Smith, Head Baseball Coach (1995-present) and current Director of Athletics, College of Central Florida: "Bob Zelinski's positive impact on the College of Central Florida athletics department was second to none, and his devotion and leadership for CF, the FCSAA, and the NJCAA will be appreciated for decades."