Goldey-Beacom Picks Tom Brennan as its New Director of Athletics

General | 11/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

Dr. Thomas M. Brennan, who has built a highly successful career in collegiate athletics on the Division I level, has been hired by Goldey-Beacom College to be its next Director of Athletics.

Brennan arrives after spending the last 16 years as the Director of Athletics at La Salle University. His bevy of accomplishments include raising athletic revenues during the last three years by over 100 percent, major enhancements to all of the Explorers' athletic facilities and seeing the student-athletes exceed the NCAA average for graduation rates and grade-point average.

He also served during that time as a board member for the Sport Changes Life Foundation, the Philadelphia Sports Congress, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the National Consortium for Academics and Sports, Special Olympics and the American Cancer Society.

Brennan also was the Director of Athletics at San Jose State University from 1990-97. He increased the annual fund by 250 percent, raised over $25 million during a five-year period to support capital projects, help build a new field house, more than doubled the Spartans' graduation rate, received national recognition for institutional efforts to promote gender equity and helped the University gain entrance into the Western Athletic Conference.

He also lent a hand during that time with the San Jose Mayor's Gang Task Force, the Adopt a School Partnership, the San Jose Unified School District, the San Jose Rotary Club and the San Jose State University Institute for Social Responsibility.

Brennan's first post as Director of Athletics took place from 1986-90 at Loyola College in Maryland. He introduced the Athletic Fund Development and Corporate Partners Program, saw the student-athletes' graduation rate exceed the College's rate and led the Greyhounds to entry into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

He also was on the State Board of Director for the Maryland Special Olympics during this time.

Brennan also was the Associate Athletics Director for Academic Affairs at the University of New Mexico from 1983-86, the Assistant Athletics Director for Programs for UNM from 1980-83 and the Academic Coordinator for Student-Athletes at Syracuse University from 1976-80. During his time at New Mexico, he helped the department gain recognition on 60 Minutes and in Sports Illustrated for enhancements in academic support and with NCAA compliance.

In announcing the appointment, GBC President, Dr. Gary L. Wirt, praised Brennan's accomplishments, saying, "Tom will bring a powerful resume with him from La Salle University. His extensive knowledge of intercollegiate athletics, coupled with a proven track record in enhancing the academic achievement of student-athletes can have a powerful impact on our campus. He brings a keen and analytic eye for talent, but understands the importance of academics, and ultimately, graduation. Our campus is extremely excited about his arrival."

"With the selection of Tom Brennan, Goldey-Beacom College is welcoming an effective and experienced college athletics administrator who has been successful at each of his previous stops," GBC Dean of Students and former Director of Athletics Chuck Hammond said. "It was a pleasure to learn more about Tom during our search process and we are confident that he be able to elevate our Athletic Programs. I would like to welcome Tom and his wife Ellen to the college community."

"I am delighted to be joining Goldey-Beacom College as its Athletics Director and really as a member of the Goldey-Beacom family," Brennan said. "I was struck, in particular, by the dedication and the commitment of senior leadership with whom I met, including President Gary L. Wirt, Executive Vice President Kristine Santomauro and Dean of Students Chuck Hammond. Goldey-Beacom is a special place that emphasizes opportunity, a quality education and a true concern for student achievement and student welfare. It is my sense that our best years are ahead of us. A solid foundation has been established for Athletics. And it is now my intention to provide the energy, the enthusiasm and the leadership necessary to insure that Athletics grows as it also remains true to mission and contributes to the life and the vitality of the college."

Brennan graduated Le Moyne College in 1974 with a B.A. in English, earned his Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University in 1975 and his doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse in 1982.

Brennan replaces Hammond, who on November 1 began work as the College's Dean of Students. Hammond took over for Bernadette Wimberley, who on October 31 retired after working at Goldey-Beacom College for 32 years.

Founded in 1886, the College offers graduate and undergraduate degrees with majors in psychology, economics, criminal justice, English and all areas of business. With alumni from 26 states and 66 nations, Goldey-Beacom College is located in Pike Creek Valley, a suburb of Wilmington, Delaware. The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs and the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education.

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