Dear Colleagues:
I am pleased to announce the hiring of Jeff Stapleton as the University’s seventh Director of Athletics, effective at the start of the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Jeff has been a loyal member of the Monmouth University community for the past 31 years, serving since 2015 as Deputy Director of Athletics, a position which involves him in all facets of intercollegiate athletics. One of his primary responsibilities at the University has been to serve as the facilities director for athletics, a role that includes overseeing the development and construction of numerous projects, including the Ocean First Bank Center, Kessler Stadium, and numerous renovations to many of Monmouth’s athletic facilities. As the Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations, Jeff oversaw the daily operational needs of three of the University’s marquee programs in football, men’s basketball, and baseball. His tasks included, but were not limited to: interpreting NCAA policies, hiring coaches, monitoring budgets, overseeing scholarship awards, coordinating scheduling, evaluating head coaches, and directing game operations. Jeff continues to be the primary supervisor for those sports, which have been some of the most successful in the department. In addition, Jeff was the University’s television production liaison for 11 years, coordinating exposure through televised athletic events on ESPN, MSG, Cablevision, CN-8, and CSTV, among others. For the last seven seasons he has been a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Marketing and Television Committee and was instrumental in Monmouth joining both the MAAC and the Big South Conference. Jeff began his employment with the University as an Assistant Athletic Director in 1990.
Prior to arriving at Monmouth, Jeff spent three years as a Field Promotions Manager for Avia Group International, developing and executing athletic footwear promotions in the tristate area. From 1983 to 1987, he was an assistant basketball coach at Colgate University and at Hobart College, his alma mater.
He is a 1983 graduate of Hobart College, where was a four-year member of the men’s basketball team. Jeff and his wife, Trish, reside in Spring Lake Heights with their four daughters: Maggie, Maureen, Siobhan, and Niamh.
I want to thank the members of the Athletics Director Search Committee – including John Christopher (Chair), Jennifer McGovern, Karen Keene, Patrick Dorsey, and Nina Anderson – for their assistance in this search. In addition, I want to thank all of the members of the Athletics Department, as well as my other Direct Reports, who interviewed the candidates and provided additional feedback for my consideration.
Please join me in congratulating Jeff Stapleton on his upcoming promotion.
Dr. Patrick Leahy
President