ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION
Don DiJulia
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ATHLETICS DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS One of the most respected leaders and well‐known names in col‐ legiate athletics, Saint Joseph's director of athletics Don DiJulia is now in his sixth decade on Hawk Hill, etching his name in the annals of SJU athletics first as a student‐athlete and later as an administra‐ tor. In 2012, DiJulia was promoted to vice president for athlet‐ ics/director of athletics. DiJulia is in his second stint as the University’s top athletic administrator after returning to SJU as associate vice presi‐ dent/athletic director in June of 1988. He has spent 26 of the last 33 years on Hawk Hill. For the past 22 years, DiJulia has overseen tremendous growth in the University’s athletics programs. During his tenure, five varsi‐ ty programs have been added, a new weight training facility built, athletic fund drives initiated, and athletic facilities have been updated and created. Saint Joseph’s underwent the biggest project in DiJulia’s tenure with the expansion and renovation of Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, which reopened for the 2009‐10 season as the Michael J. Hagan ’85 Arena. The Jack Ramsay Basketball Center was dedicated in the summer of 2009 and includes state‐of‐the art facilities for the men’s and women’s basketball programs as well as athletic com‐ munications. This comprehensive plan to enhance varsity and recreational sports at SJU was completed in 2011‐12 as the transition to the James J. Maguire ‘58 Campus resulted in the creation of varsity fields for baseball, field hockey and softball, six tennis courts, and additional recreation and intramural facilities. DiJulia was honored at the 2009 NACDA Convention with the Gary Cunningham Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Division I‐AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI‐AAA ADA), which is the highest award given by the organization. In 2005, he was cho‐ sen as the Northeast Regional Division I‐AAA Athletic Director of the Year. He has emphasized the importance of the student‐athlete with the institution of the SJU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll as well as senior Scholar‐Athlete awards during his tenure.
DiJulia has spearhead‐ ed the hosting of numer‐ ous conference and national tournaments by SJU, including the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds and the 2000 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four. DiJulia was part of the most compelling story in college basket‐ ball in 2003‐04 as Saint Joseph’s gained the attention of a nation with its successful quest for the perfect regular season and run to the NCAA Elite Eight. With DiJulia leading the way, Saint Joseph’s handled the unprecedented demands on the program from its many constituents, including alumni, fans, and media. A 1967 graduate of Saint Joseph’s, DiJulia has worn many hats in college athletics during his more than 40 years of professional experience. His career began in coaching, with a one‐year stint as assistant baseball coach at SJU in 1968. He then went on to assis‐ tant coaching positions in basketball at Fairfield University, George Washington University and American University. During his first tenure as director of athletics at Saint Joseph’s from 1976 to 1981, DiJulia was instrumental in the planning and construction of the $5 million athletic and recreation complex. He also oversaw the growth of women’s athletics as softball and cross country were added as varsity sports. DiJulia left Saint Joseph’s in 1981 to become commissioner of the East Coast Conference, a position he held for two years until leav‐ ing to become commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference from 1984 to 1988. He is extremely involved in the intercollegiate athletic communi‐ ty, and currently serves on the Atlantic 10 Television and Officiating Committee, the Dad Vail Regatta Board, The Institute for Sport/Spirituality and Character Board, and the Philadelphia CYO Board. A two‐sport athlete as an undergraduate in baseball and basket‐ ball, DiJulia was a member of the 1964‐65 Hawk basketball team which compiled a 26‐1 regular season record and a top 10 national ranking under head coach Dr. Jack Ramsay. In 2005, DiJulia was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his alma mater, St. James High School, and in 2007, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Delaware County Chapter. He and his wife, Pat, reside in Havertown, Pa., and have seven children and 12 grandchildren.
Under DiJulia’s leadership, Saint Joseph’s has hosted numerous conference and national tournaments. In 2009, SJU hosted the sold‐out NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at the Wachovia Center.
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