Dr. Tom Brennan
Director, Mid-Atlantic Region
(215) 951-1672
Dr. Thomas Brennan has ushered in a new era in La Salle Athletics since his appointment as the school’s fifth Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation on September 18, 1997. He guides the school’s 22-sport Division I Athletic program.
Since coming to La Salle, Brennan has enhanced many areas within the Athletic Department, including the formation of the Explorer Club, a fundraising/booster organization, and the introduction of an active Corporate Partners/Athletic Sponsorship Program. Membership in the Explorer Club has more than doubled during his tenure. Corporate partnerships have been established with many local businesses and corporations. During his tenure, the Philadelphia Big 5 has been rejuvenated, the Tom Gola Arena has been dedicated, the Alumni Hall of Athletes’ Program has been expanded and many other initiatives have been introduced in an effort to enhance the overall program.
Under Brennan’s guidance, La Salle Athletics has enhanced its commitment to youth outreach and community service. La Salle was selected, by the NCAA, as one of only 20 schools to participate in a national program with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization (Campus Pals). La Salle has also been consistently recognized by the National Consortium for Academics and Sport for having one of the most active and expansive outreach programs in the country.
Dr. Brennan serves as a member of the Executive Committee for the Philadelphia Sports Congress, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Big Brother and Big Sister Association of Philadelphia. He is a current member of the NCAA Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct and the Council on Amateurism. He has also served as Chair of the A10 Executive Committee and Chair for the Atlantic 10 Conference Post-Graduate Scholarship Committee, the Television Committee and Finance Committee, and as a member of the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Committee, as well as the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
Dr. Brennan is also a member of the Executive Committee for the National Consortium for Academics and Sport. Brennan was the Athletic Director at San Jose State University from 1990-97, moving the school from the Big West Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. During his administration, graduation rates for student-athletes more than doubled as did participation by women in intercollegiate athletics, as the university was recognized for Title IX compliance efforts by the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, annual athletic contributions increased three-fold, while $6 million was raised for a new field house and administrative complex. Prior to his tenure as the Athletic Director at San Jose State, Brennan was the Director of Athletics at Loyola College in Maryland from 1986-90. During that time, Brennan successfully moved Loyola from the Northeast Conference into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Greyhounds became national contenders in men’s and women’s lacrosse and men’s soccer and competed for the NCAA Division I Championships in each of these sports. While at Loyola, Brennan was a member of the Board of Directors for the Maryland Special Olympics.
From 1980-86, Brennan worked at the University of New Mexico, first as Assistant Athletics Director and then Associate Athletics Director for Advancement. At the time of his departure, he oversaw the fundraising, media relations, sponsorship, marketing, sales and athletic alumni efforts. Part of his duties included establishing a statewide radio and television network. Prior to that, he oversaw the NCAA compliance program and academic support area of the department. Brennan also earned a faculty position in the school’s Graduate Program in Athletic Administration.
Brennan’s career in athletic administration began at Syracuse University, where he was Academic Coordinator for the athletic department, serving as a liaison with the school’s central administration, deans, department heads and coaches. Syracuse was recognized at the time by the NCAA as having one of the top student-athlete graduation rates in the country.
A graduate Xavier High School (NYC) and LeMoyne College ’73 in Syracuse, NY, Brennan went on to earn Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Brennan and his wife Ellen, a member of the faculty at Penn State-Ogontz, are the parents of Maggie, Tim, and Kate.