General | March 14, 2023
PHILADELPHIA – La Salle Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Brian Baptiste has informed the University that he has accepted a senior leadership role at the University of Miami, where he will serve as Senior Deputy Director of Athletics. Baptiste will remain at La Salle through April 11.
The University is finalizing plans for interim leadership of its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation. A national search for La Salle's next Vice President of Athletics and Recreation will begin shortly.
"It has been an honor to serve in the role of supporting our young people in their growth and development," Baptiste said. "My family and I are grateful for the memories and lasting relationships we have built within the La Salle community. The accomplishments and achievements over the last four years are a true testament to our coaches' and staff's strong belief in our ability to achieve more together. Our department is filled with individuals who are motivated to change and transform lives. With that foundation set, I know there will be continued success for the Explorers."
"Brian's contributions to La Salle are abundant," said La Salle University President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D. "He has fostered a department that prioritizes the success of our student-athletes in the field of competition and in the classroom. The results speak for themselves, as our Explorers have received national recognition for their athletic achievements, academic performance, and persistence to graduation. We are proud of Brian's accomplishments and we wish him well in his next professional venture."
Baptiste, who arrived at La Salle in August 2019, ushered in a significant period of academic and athletic success for La Salle's student-athletes.
Under Baptiste, the Explorers' cross country and outdoor track and field programs achieved national and regional success. The men's and women's cross country programs combined to win three Atlantic 10 Conference titles during his tenure. More than 100 student-athletes have earned all-conference recognition, with six advancing to NCAA National Championships, and three earning All-America status.
La Salle's student-athletes performed at a high level in the classroom—and at a rate that is among the best in the nation. Explorers, across all sports, earned national renown for their academic achievements and athletic performances under Baptiste. La Salle Athletics ranks among the top-20 nationally in the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate, which measures student-athletes' academic perseverance to graduation. A year prior, in 2021, La Salle was one of eight colleges and universities at the Division I level to earn the nation's best Graduation Success Rate score, matching Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Duke, Holy Cross, and Lafayette.
A record 263 student-athletes earned places in the Atlantic 10 Conference Commission's Honor Roll during the 2021-22 academic year. La Salle has also set unprecedented numbers with 60 student-athletes earning All-Academic honors from their respective conferences and coaches' associations, with the cumulative grade-point average of the University's student-athletes increasing by .18 grade points in 2021-22.
Baptiste's impact produced results outside of competition, too. The University, in February 2021, spearheaded a multi-year partnership with adidas that was the first of its kind nationally. Baptiste established the "Defining Your Difference Program" to better position graduating student-athletes for success after graduation. He secured partnerships with RealResponse, GamePlan, and Brandr to enhance the student-athlete experience and development, and inked deals with NovaCare and Headspace to better student-athletes' physical and mental health and provide additional services for the department.
Fundraising, under Baptiste's leadership, established department records over the last two most-recent fiscal years with support of the athletics department's annual fund and unrestricted giving. The Men's Basketball Leadership Giving Society, established during Baptiste's tenure, has led to more than $1 million in gifts and commitments to La Salle over its first full cycle.
Baptiste's tenure at La Salle has overlapped with national appointments and regional accolades. He co-chairs the Atlantic 10 Conference's Commission for Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, working to achieve measurable and sustained equity across and within each institution, and serves as the Vice Chair for the NCAA's Minority Opportunities & Interests Committee. Baptiste serves on the board of directors for the Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in North America, and in 2021 earned recognition as one of Philadelphia Business Journal's 40 Under 40.
