St. John's Hires Former Fordham Athletic Director Ed Kull for the position
St. John's hired former Fordham athletic director and New York native Ed Kull to serve as its new athletics director, the private Catholic university announced Wednesday.
Ed Kull graduated with an MBA from St. John's Tobin College of Business in 2005
“Ed Kull has demonstrated a commitment to excellence on and off the field of competition,” said St. John, Pastor Brian J. Shanley.
“This is an important hire at a critical time in the changing landscape of college athletics, and I am pleased to have Ed rejoin our team.”
Kull grew up in Queens, not far from St. John's, and was a star baseball player at Stony Brook University on Long Island. He graduated with a BA in 2003. Kull worked as a graduate assistant at Carnesecca Arena as well. Two years later, he completed his MBA at St. John's Tobin College of Business.
I am excited to welcome Ed Kull back to Queens as the new Athletic Director! 🔴🌩
– St. John's Red Storm (@StJohnsRedStorm) September 11, 2024
“To say this is the honor of my professional life would be an understatement,” said Kull. “I understand that the task before us will not be easy, but I believe with all my heart that we will use all the necessary resources to restore St.
St. John's hasn't had an athletic director since Mike Cragg, and the school agreed to part ways after spending six years as a Big East school. Kull was named one of SJU's top players to oversee basketball coach Rick Pitino's staff.
Kull had been working at Fordham since April 2020
He left college sports for several years, before returning to St. John's from 2011 to 2017, including serving as vice president of athletics where he worked on the university's presidential revenue projects.
“I'm happy to welcome Ed home to St. “We have enjoyed a good working relationship in the past. Ed has the knowledge and motivation to achieve athletic goals. His love and affection for St. John's… will help transform our athletic department.”
Kull has been at Fordham since April 2020. He took over the position full-time in February 2021. Under Kull, the Fordham men's basketball program found some success under two recruiting coaches, Kyle Neptune and Keith Urgo. Neptune left after one season and returned to Villanova to replace Jay Wright as head coach.
Before Kull hired Neptune, the Rams had gone 45-95 over the previous five seasons, including a 2-12 mark in 2020-21. In his one year at the helm, Neptune led the Rams to a 16-16 record and an appearance in the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years.
Urgo led the Rams to their best season in three decades in 2022-23. Fordham's football team made the FCS playoffs in 2022. Additionally, the Rams have won conference titles and NCAA titles in water polo, men's soccer, softball, and women's tennis under Kull.
Kull also benefited from fundraising for Fordham Athletics. The Rams completed their third consecutive fiscal year with a total of $7.6 million in fundraising totals in 2023-24. That was more than $2.5 million above last year's mark.
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