Monday marked the beginning of a new era in the Seton Hall Athletics department, as Bryan Felt was introduced as the school's new Athletics Director at a press conference in the historic Walsh Gymnasium.
Joined by President Joseph Nyre, Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff Pat Lyons and Board of Regents Athletics Chairman Hank D'Alessandro, Felt expressed gratitude for the opportunity to return to Seton Hall in the role he previously dreamed of stepping into after spending two years as the Athletics Director at Saint Peter's.
"I'm very pleased to welcome home Bryan as one of our own," Nyre said.
"It's no secret the love I have for my alma mater, Seton Hall University," Felt said. "Returning to Seton Hall is exactly like coming home. Coming home specifically to the amazing people who make up this institution."
In two years at Saint Peter’s, Felt hired new men’s and women’s basketball coaches. He also instituted the department’s first-ever season ticket plan, which resulted in a 110% increase in ticket revenue and a 40% increase in home game attendance.
"In two short years at Saint Peter's, he accomplished so much," Lyons, who served as Seton Hall's Athletics Director for the past nine years, said of Felt. "He had to make difficult decisions, which he did. He had to make two difficult hires, which he did in Men's and Women's Basketball. He set Saint Peter's on a great path for the foreseeable future. I'm sure Saint Peter's is sad that this day has come."
"I'm incredibly grateful to Saint Peter's," Felt said. "Saint Peter's is a very special place. I'm really proud of what we accomplished in the two years that I was there. I'm proud of what everybody worked for and I know the future is incredibly bright for the Peacocks. I can't wait to see what they accomplish moving forward."
Felt is a two-time graduate of Seton Hall, receiving Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997 and his Master of Arts in Corporate and Public Communications in 2005. Felt began working at Seton Hall in 2001 with the University’s Advancement Department, which oversees the Seton Hall fund. In 2004, Felt joined the Athletics department as Executive Director for the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund.
In 2011, Felt joined Lyons’ administrative staff as Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs. In September 2015, he was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director, a position he held until he left for Saint Peter's.
"There's no question the trajectory of this department has been phenomenal," Felt said. "I look forward to engaging our University, our community our prideful alumni and our supporters. I know collectively we will achieve new heights in this athletic department. I'm incredibly excited to be here and to be back. There's nothing better to me than being home at Seton Hall."
Tyler Calvaruso can be reached at tyler.calvaruso@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @tyler_calvaruso.
