Claire Herquet, Editor-in-Chief

Before arriving at La Salle University, Jarett Gerald built a career that spanned nearly every corner of collegiate athletics. A former track and field student-athlete at the University of South Carolina, Gerald began his professional journey in athletics administration with roles in mentorship, basketball operations and student-athlete development before joining the NCAA, where he worked in governance and enforcement. His experience later expanded into athletic fundraising and revenue generation, holding leadership positions at both Duke University and the University of Missouri.

Now serving as La Salle University’s Vice President of Athletics & Recreation and Director of Athletics, Gerald oversees the university’s 23 Division I athletics and more than 500 student-athletes. His appointment comes at a time when athletic departments across the country are increasingly viewed as more than competitive enterprises. They have become the key drivers of student engagement, institutional visibility, alumni relations and support, placing athletic leaders at the center of conversations regarding the future of higher education.

When asked how he would describe his role to the average person, Gerald’s answer was straightforward: “My job is to serve our student-athletes,” Gerald said. “Serve our student-athletes, and then you support the coaches.”

It is a position that many students may rarely see in action. While coaches lead teams on the field and court, athletic directors often work behind the scenes, managing budgets, allocating resources, supporting coaches, engaging alumni and helping student-athletes succeed both during and after their time in college. For Gerald, that work begins with understanding that success cannot be measured solely in wins and losses.

“You want to win games, but you also want to get job opportunities after you graduate, right?” he said. “You want to win games, but you also want to make sure that every day that you go to class that you’re prepared.”

That broader definition of success aligns closely with the values that have long defined La Salle as a Catholic, Lasallian institution. Athletics does often draw attention; however, Gerald sees sports as one piece of a larger educational experience focused on personal growth, community and opportunity.

His early impressions of the university suggest those strengths already exist.

“I love the intimate…I use the word small, but I think I prefer the term intimate [to describe the] feel of La Salle,” Gerald said.

He believes that “intimacy” creates opportunities for meaningful relationships and a level of personal investment that are difficult to replicate elsewhere.

“At La Salle, we have a lot of opportunities available; but again, it’s more close knit, and there’s a certain type of person who wants to go to a certain type of institution like this,” he said.

That close-knit culture is something Gerald repeatedly returned to throughout the conversation. Whether discussing student-athlete development, collaboration among coaches and administrators or engagement with alumni and supporters, he emphasized the value of knowing people not as numbers, but as individuals with stories worth investing in.

For Gerald, athletics can help tell that story to prospective students and families.

Athletic programs are often among the most public-facing aspects of a university. Conference championships, postseason appearances and nationally televised games can introduce people to a school long before they ever set foot on campus. Moreover, Gerald was quick to point out that La Salle’s athletic success extends far beyond the sports that typically receive the most attention.

“Our women’s soccer team they’re playing in the semifinals of the A10 tournament. I mean, how cool is that?” Gerald said. “They’ve got a chance to win the A10 championship. Our women’s basketball team played the NIT last year. Triathlon finished 12th this past week at nationals. Our cross country team is talented. Our field hockey team is going to come up.”

Even still, Gerald believes athletics is ultimately about people rather than programs. Since arriving on campus, he has spent much of his time listening to students, coaches, alumni and other members of the La Salle community – those conversations have reinforced what he sees as one of the university’s greatest strengths: the investment and care people have in one another.

“The other thing that has stood out the most to me about being at La Salle is how genuine everyone is and how deeply they care about La Salle,” Gerald said. “They want to tell you all the ways that we can improve, but they want to also tell you about all the great things that we’re already doing.”

That sense of shared ownership is something Gerald hopes to lean into moving forward.

For students who may never attend a game or compete in a varsity sport, the work of an athletic director can feel distant from daily campus life. Gerald, however, views athletics as another avenue for building community and creating opportunities.

“I know you because you’re invested in the community. You’re invested in this place,” he said. “And now I can also invest my time and energy in you and get to know you and know your story and help build this place even more.”

As Gerald continues his first year at La Salle, the question may be less about what an athletic director does and more about what athletics can do for a university. When his vision comes to fruition, athletics will not be a collection of teams competing for championships. It will be a vehicle for student success, school pride and community building, serving as both a front porch to the outside world and a gathering place for the people who call La Salle home.