Rowan University Athletics Director John Giannini Retires After Stellar Five-Year Run
Glassboro, UK - After a highly successful five-year tenure, Dr. John Giannini has announced his retirement as Director of Athletics at Rowan University. A nationwide search for his successor will commence immediately.
Giannini, who initially served as interim director in 2019 before assuming the full role in 2020, oversaw the university's 18 varsity sports program competing at the NCAA Division III level. During his leadership, Rowan's teams achieved remarkable success, capturing 26 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) team championships and making 19 appearances in the NCAA Championships. The Profs also earned a coveted 21st place national ranking in the Learfield Division III Directors' Cup and secured their fourth consecutive NJAC Cup in 2023-24, a testament to the overall strength of the university's athletic program.
Under Giannini's guidance, Rowan student-athletes thrived both on and off the field. An impressive 116 athletes received All-America honours, with five securing individual NCAA titles and one being crowned National Player of the Year. Academic excellence was also a hallmark of Giannini's tenure, with 10 student-athletes earning a place on the prestigious Academic All-American Teams.
"Dr. Giannini's dynamic leadership has not only elevated our athletics program to a national level but also profoundly impacted the lives of countless Rowan student-athletes," stated Ali A. Houshmand, PhD, President of Rowan University. "We are deeply grateful for his vision, his accomplishments as both a coach and director of athletics, and for his unwavering commitment to upholding the winning tradition we hold dear."
"Reflecting on the last four decades, coaching was a true passion, and serving as Director of Athletics at Rowan was an immense privilege," said Giannini. "The Rowan athletics administrative and support staff are highly experienced, efficient, and run exceptional events. Our coaches and student-athletes consistently excel in the NJAC and at the national level. It has been an honour to work alongside and get to know such extraordinary individuals."
Giannini's extensive coaching experience spans over 29 years, marked by remarkable success at both the Division I and Division III levels. He led the Profs to the 1996 NCAA Championship, marking Rowan's sole national title in men's basketball. His coaching career boasts an impressive 505 victories, including 14 years as head men's basketball coach at La Salle University and eight seasons at the University of Maine. His 2013 La Salle team garnered national attention with an impressive NCAA Sweet 16 run, while he became Maine's winningest coach in history.
Giannini returned to Rowan in 2018 as the founding director of the university's Centre for Sports Communication and Social Impact before taking on the interim athletic director role.
In 2004, Giannini was inducted into the Rowan University-Glassboro State College Hall of Fame, while his 1996 national champion team earned a place in the Hall of Fame in 2019.
A native of Chicago, Giannini holds a bachelor's degree from North Central College in Illinois, a master's degree in physical education with a specialization in sports psychology from the University of North Texas, and a doctorate in kinesiology with a specialization in sport psychology from the University of Illinois, earned in 1992.
