Ed Kull named St. John’s Athletic Director

Oyster Bay resident Ed Kull was announced as the eighth vice president and director of athletics of St. John’s University on Sept. 24.

Kull returns to St. John’s after serving as Fordham University’s Athletic Director for the past four years. Kull, a graduate of St. John’s and former chief of staff to the president and vice president for institutional advancement, said he is is honored to return and excited to help elevate the historic program.

“I feel really grateful and honored by this opportunity,” said Kull. “Manhattan is a basketball city, with St. John’s and Madison Square Garden. I am incredibly excited to get to work and help elevate this university and this basketball program, not just for our alumni, not just for our fans, but for this city.”

Kull has worked with numerous organizations, including the National Football League and Coca-Cola. In both roles, he focused on the business side, particularly in revenue generation and funding. However, Kull said he believes that his business mind, combined with his passion for college athletics, makes him the perfect fit.

“While I was completing my undergrad at Stony Brook, I played collegiate baseball and I fell in love with college athletics and being around student athletes,” Kull said. “I think now as the NCAA changes with transfer portals and name, image, and likeness, that my background in sports business as well as my background in college athletics, really positions me well to navigate the new world of college athletics.”

Kull has been a New Yorker his entire life. Growing up in Brooklyn and Queens and then moving to Oyster Bay in 2009, Kull says he understands the impact that St. John’s has on the state, and is ready to represent the people of Oyster Bay.

“It’s such a blessing not having to relocate especially in this business,” said Kull. “My family and I have been in Oyster Bay since 2009, we have kids in the school district, our entire family is nearby, and there are a lot of St. John’s alumni around the area that have shown their support and I am blessed and honored to represent both Long Island and Nassau County.”

Kull was officially welcomed back by the university as a part of his introductory press conference. Kull talked about the history of St. John’s, as well as the high expectation from the university’s athletics fans.

“I think that all of our fans are eager to have a March Madness team here that they’re excited by and support. I believe Rick Pitino, who is one of the two greatest coaches ever, is the right leader, and I believe that I am the right leader, in partnership with him, to get it done,” Kull said.