Dr. Thomas Brennan has ushered in a new era in La Salle Athletics since his appointment as the school[apos]s fifth Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation on September 18, 1997. He guides the school[apos]s 23-sport Division I Athletic Program as the university enters its tenth season in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Since coming to La Salle, Brennan has reorganized many areas within the Athletic Department. During his tenure, student athlete academic achievement has been outstanding, including a 93% graduation rate for students who have exhausted their athletic eligibility. Annual fund raising through the Explorer Club and Corporate Partners Program has increased five-fold. La Salle has also received national recognition for six consecutive years for excellence in its community service and outreach programs. Brennan is a member of the Board of Directors for the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Philadelphia and a member of the Executive Committee for the Philadelphia Sports Congress. Dr. Brennan is current chair of the Atlantic 10 Conference Athletic Directors[apos] Group and has served as Chair for the Atlantic 10 Conference Post-Graduate Scholarship, Finance and Television Committees, and as Advisor to the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Brennan is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Consortium for Academics and Sport and a member of the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct.
Brennan was the Athletic Director at San Jose State University from 1990-1997, moving the school from the Big West Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. From 1986-1990 he was the Director of Athletics at Loyola College in Maryland. He worked at the University of New Mexico from 1980-1986, first as assistant Athletics Director and then Associate Athletics Director for Advancement. His athletic administration career began at Syracuse University, where he was Coordinator of Academic and Student Support for the athletic department.
A 1973 graduate of LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY, Brennan went on to earn his Master[apos]s and Doctoral degrees in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Brennan and his wife Ellen are the parents of Maggie, Tim, and Kate.
