Seton Hall AD job stays in the family with Bryan Felt

The search for Seton Hall’s new athletics director ended the way everyone anticipated it would — with a homecoming for Bryan Felt.

The Saint Peter’s AD, who spent two decades on Seton Hall’s campus between his time as a student there and his rise to the post of senior administrator, will fill the void created when Pat Lyons was promoted to executive vice president in June.

Familiarity was the key here. Lyons’ new position includes oversight of the athletics department — creating an unusual chain-of-command structure because most ADs report directly to their university president — and Felt was Lyons’ right-hand man before he took the Saint Peter’s job in 2017.

"We're tremendously excited to welcome Bryan, his wife Tara, and their three children back to their home here at Seton Hall," Lyons said in a statement. "Bryan did a phenomenal job elevating our external units during his time here, and with the amount of experience he has and the relationships he has built here, we have no doubt that he is the perfect candidate to lead our student-athletes, coaches and administrators and execute the department's vision for success."

Pirate blue runs deep in Felt’s veins. He graduated from Seton Hall in 1997; his wife Tara also is an alum. After initially working in television news, Felt joined his alma mater in 2001 as a fundraiser and worked his way up the ladder, becoming executive director of the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund and then senior associate athletic director. In the latter role he helped complete two capital campaigns that funded $40 million in facility improvements.

At Saint Peter’s felt hired several coaches, most notably tapping former Seton Hall associate head coach Shaheen Holloway to run the Peacocks’ men’s basketball program in 2018. Felt also has a good rapport with Pirates head coach Kevin Willard, although Lyons will remain deeply involved in the direction of the men’s basketball program.

"Seton Hall University has been a part of my life for over two decades, and the opportunity to lead the athletics department is a dream come true," Felt said in a statement. 

This entire administrative redesign was executed with continuity in mind. Lyons is viewed as a rising star in college athletics circles and his promotion increases the likelihood he’ll stay in South Orange long term. Now his partnership with Felt, already well-established, will resume at a higher-profile level.

That’s why, although a search was conducted, the writing was on the wall for Felt’s return to the mothership. Barring a surprise turn, the Hall’s athletics director job was staying in the family.

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino.com.

Source: App.com

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