Position: Director of Athletics
Phone: (718) 990-6223
E-mail: monaschc@stjohns.edu
Chris Monasch was named the fifth Athletic Director in St.
John's University history on February 1, 2005. Monasch, who
returned to his alma mater after serving as the Commissioner of the
America East Conference, oversees all St. John's 17 varsity
athletic programs and leads the University's Strategic Plan for
Athletics, including facilities, marketing, corporate relations and
NCAA compliance.
Monasch, 45, brings a wealth of experience in Division I
collegiate athletics, NCAA governance, student development,
external affairs and fund-raising.
Monasch has spent his entire career in collegiate athletics,
serving in various leadership capacities for more than 24 years and
has a résumé that touches some 30 institutions. He has served as
commissioner of both the America East and Northeast Conferences, as
well as Assistant and Associate Athletic Director at Fordham and
Seton Hall Universities, respectively. He has experience with
complex issues such as NCAA governance, compliance and academic
support, and is known as a visionary administrator. Monasch is a
St. John's alumnus, graduating with a B.S. in athletic
administration in 1981.
"Chris's three decades of experience with college athletics, his
Division I leadership and his strong ties to St. John's will all
greatly benefit our student-athletes," said Rev. Donald J.
Harrington, C.M., President of St. John's University upon Monasch's
hiring. "We see even greater days ahead for St. John's athletics
with Chris at the helm as our Athletic Director."
"I am thrilled to be able to return to my alma mater and New
York," Monasch said. "St. John's has a rich athletic tradition and
I look forward to building on that great foundation. I am thankful
to Father Harrington and the University community for embracing me
so warmly."
Monasch spent the last eight years as Commissioner of the
America East Conference, leading that organization in implementing
a NCAA compliance program, developing a marketing program and
organizing the league's television network. Monasch also created
the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and restructured the league
governance process to empower the member institutions' presidents
as its chief governing body. Monasch also oversaw the addition of
four new members to the conference and brought the conference to
its highest level of athletic success in its history.
Prior to his tenure at the AEC, Monasch served as the first
full-time Commissioner of the Northeast Conference, a position he
held for nine years. He extricated the league from the ECAC in the
late 1980s, changing its name from the ECAC Metro Conference,
expanded league membership, added Division I-AA football to its
sports sponsorship list and developed its television network.
Monasch has been a member of several NCAA Committees, including
the NCAA Management Council, the Minority Opportunities and
Interests Committee, the Recruiting Committee and the Division I
Baseball Committee. He has been an advocate for student-athletes,
serving two terms as liaison with the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee. He served as chair of the Division I Management Council
during the 2004-05 academic year.
Monasch began his career as an Assistant Athletic Director at
Fordham University, a role he filled for four years before serving
as the school's interim athletic director in 1985, where he also
started the school's first academic support program. As an
Associate Athletic Director at Seton Hall University, Monasch was a
key player in the athletic department's upgrade that led to a men's
basketball Final Four appearance and the move of its games to the
Meadowlands.
Monasch serves on the Advisory Board of the National Consortium
of Academics and Sports. He also serves on the Advisory Board for
the Sport Management program and the College of Professional
Studies at St. John's. He has served as an adjunct professor at the
Seton Hall University School of Law and St. John's University.
In addition to his degree from St. John's, Monasch holds a
master of arts in communications from Fordham University (1984) and
a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University (1993). He is a member
of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.
Monasch currently resides in Manhattan.