Le Moyne’s new AD will begin work at the school in January

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The next athletic director (AD) at Le Moyne College will begin his duties at the school on Jan. 1, 2025. Phil Brown, whose formal title is assistant VP of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation, comes to Le Moyne from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he serves as executive associate athletic director and chief business officer, per the college’s Oct. 29 announcement. Brown will become the fifth AD in Le Moyne’s 78-year history, the college noted. He succeeds Bob Beretta, who resigned from the role earlier this year to become athletic director at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, which is Beretta’s alma mater. Mike Lindberg, who graduated from Le Moyne in 1979, has served as interim athletic director since June. The college selected Brown from a list of finalists who interviewed with a search committee representing students, faculty, administrators and alumni. “Beyond his impressive knowledge of the changing landscape of college athletics, Phil demonstrates a strong commitment to the focus on academics for our student-athletes,” Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura said in the school’s announcement. “It was clear throughout the interview process that he recognizes the importance of the student athlete model with ‘student’ always coming first. He also understands and embraces Le Moyne’s strong tradition of service to others, which is a hallmark of Jesuit education. His overall knowledge and varied background will serve him well in this role.”

About Phil Brown

A native of Louisiana, Brown earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Houston and an MBA degree from Texas A&M-Commerce. He earned a master’s degree in sports management from Georgia Southern and is also a graduate of the Sport Management Institute Executive Programs conducted at Michigan and Texas. “I am genuinely grateful and excited to join Le Moyne as athletic director, and want to thank President LeMura and the Board of Trustees for their confidence in me,” Brown said in the Le Moyne announcement. “During the interview process I was impressed with the campus and Syracuse community, and Le Moyne’s overall commitment to the Jesuit mission and academic excellence for student-athletes. I look forward to working with our coaches, staff and students as we continue to transition to D1 and work to create a long-term vision and strategy to compete at the highest level of college athletics. I believe we have the blueprint to win and look forward to celebrating many championships with the Dolphin family.” The school says Brown is joining Le Moyne athletics at a “key juncture in its history.” The Dolphins are currently in the second year of playing at the Division I level after joining the Northeast Conference in 2023. Earlier this year, Le Moyne announced that the Thomas J. Niland Jr. Athletic Complex would undergo a $45 million renovation, including $12 million in state funding. The work will involve improvements to the existing facilities, a new track and field and tennis complex, a team community center including locker rooms and sports medicine facilities, and the addition of a fitness center and a strength and conditioning facility for student-athletes. Le Moyne has also entered into a five-year agreement with Legends to help with fundraising efforts. In his current role, Brown, who has been at Vanderbilt since 2015, oversees the university’s facilities and event management, capital projects and equipment staff, Le Moyne said. In addition to his administrative operations duties in finance, facilities, event management and equipment, he serves as the baseball and women’s bowling sport administrator and previously oversaw ticket operations. Brown’s first season as baseball sport administrator ended with the program raising the 2019 national championship trophy in Omaha and a return visit to Omaha in 2021 as the national runner-up.