Jill Bodensteiner, athletic director at St. Joseph’s University is stepping down to become the next commissioner of the Horizon League, writes Jeff Neiberg for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Her final day on Hawk Hill will be April 15.
An Indiana native, Bodensteiner has led St. Joe’s athletics since June 2018. University President Cheryl A. McConnell called her “a national leader in intercollegiate athletics,” crediting her with strengthening the Bala Cynwyd school’s programs and positioning them for continued success.
Bodensteiner’s tenure included bold decisions. Most notably, she dismissed longtime men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli less than a year into her role. His successor, Billy Lange, posted an 81-104 record before departing last fall for an assistant position with the New York Knicks.
While the men’s basketball program has struggled to regain national prominence, other teams flourished. Field hockey reached the national championship game in 2024. Men’s and women’s lacrosse earned inaugural NCAA Tournament bids. The baseball team captured the Atlantic 10 regular-season title in 2023.
Eric Laudano will serve as interim athletic director during the search for Bodensteiner’s successor.
As leadership changes unfold on Hawk Hill, St. Joe’s now faces a pivotal moment, balancing continuity with the opportunity to redefine its athletic future.
Read more about Jill Bodensteiner’s legacy at St. Joe’s in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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