Rick Gaa is beginning his eighth year as the Director of Athletic Development at Bradley.  In his position, Gaa is responsible for cultivating major gifts for the Department of Athletics and his efforts have helped the department achieve record-setting fundraising revenues during his tenure.

His primary function at Bradley has been to increase the membership of the elite booster group known as the Braves Scholarship Society.  Gaa has enjoyed remarkable success to that end as the Braves Scholarship Society has grown to nearly 50 members, who support Bradley Athletics through the contributions of both money and personal means.

Prior to joining the Bradley staff during the summer of 2004, Gaa was the athletic director, as well as the boys baseball and basketball coach, at Peoria Heights School District since 1990.  For the previous 10 years, Gaa also worked as the youth baseball area coordinator for the Peoria Park District and he had previously worked as the manager of The Clubs at River City athletic complex in north Peoria.

A native Peorian, Gaa grew up attending Dunlap and Peoria Heights schools. After earning his associate’s degree in applied science from Olney Central College, Gaa received his bachelor of arts degree from Arizona State University in 1989.

Now residing in nearby Germantown Hills, Ill., Gaa and his wife, Sherry, have two sons, Nick (18) and Spencer (16).