Jason Fein is in his third year as Director of Athletics at Bates College in 2019-20, overseeing a program that comprises 31 varsity sports, 12 club sports, and nearly a dozen intramural athletic leagues. He leads the development and execution of a long-term strategic vision for Bates athletics and manages the day-to-day operations of the athletics department, serving as an advocate for the needs of student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
In his first 18 months at Bates, he led the athletics department through an internal reorganization as well as an external review of Sports Medicine services for student-athletes. With an eye on NCAA and NESCAC compliance, Fein brought on a new Senior Associate Athletic Director/SWA, as well as a new Director of Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance, and oversaw the search for a new Bates men's soccer coach as well as a new football coach for the first time in more than two decades. New facility improvements included a new competition floor, bleachers, lobby and conference room for the historic Alumni Gymnasium. Plans are under way for facility improvements across the board, including new and/or renovated fitness, sports medicine and locker room spaces, outdoor fields and indoor competition/recreational spaces.
An active member on the national intercollegiate athletics scene, Fein was appointed to a four-year term on the NCAA Division III Management Council in 2018. He also currently serves on the NCAA's Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, as well as the Division III Subcommittee for Legislative Relief and the Division III Championships Committee as the national liaison for men's basketball as well as men's and women's rowing. He has served as the chair of the Interpretations and Legislation Committee as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) board of directors, and is an active member of NACDA, MOAA, serving on the external relations committee and NADIIIAA, serving as chair of the communications committee.
From 2008 to 2017, Fein served as director of athletics at Drew University in Madison, N.J., a Division III institution with an intercollegiate program consisting of 20 varsity sports and more than 300 student-athletes. In 2016, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) honored him as a Division III Athletic Director of the Year and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) named him the Division III Administrator of the Year.
At Drew, Fein oversaw an expansion of athletics programming,most recently beginning the men's and women's golf programs, significant facility improvements, and increased fundraising and alumni engagement significantly. With a background in sports information, he also modernized Drew’s athletic brand identity and introduced an improved fan experience on campus and through digital media. Prior to joining Drew University, Fein was director of athletics at the College of Staten Island (CSI) of the City University of New York, where he expanded team offerings including instituting a new women's soccer program. He led fundraising efforts, and coordinated numerous capital improvements and facility developments including installation of a brand new turf soccer and softball complex. Before directing athletic programming at CSI, Fein served as sports information director and coached women’s volleyball and basketball. He also served as assistant director of athletics and sports information director at Brooklyn College, also part of the City University of New York.
Fein’s sports information experience extends to a wide variety of posts, including as post-season media relations coordinator for the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2012; media relations and press operations for numerous NCAA championships in men’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, women’s rowing, and football; and media relations for skating venues at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Fein is a graduate of Brooklyn College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in sports management.
Q&A: New Bates A.D. Jason Fein on the NESCAC, his Yankees, and Commons pizza
