HACKENSACK, N.J. – Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) today announced that Jason Young has been appointed the school's Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics. Young, who has worked in various roles at FDU for the last seven years, most recently served as the Assistant Vice President/Deputy Athletic Director.

Young will be introduced at a press conference on May 27 at the Bogota Savings Bank Center in Hackensack, N.J. The press conference is slated for 10 a.m.

"Jason is the right person at this time to build on the momentum that Brad Hurlbut helped generate these last seven years," said FDU President Michael Avaltroni. "Jason worked closely with Brad and was very instrumental in our recent success and knows the challenges and opportunities today in Division I athletics. He has proven himself a skilled and creative leader who will help our athletic program continue to grow and flourish."

Young arrived at FDU in 2019 as the Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs but quickly rose through the department and held roles as a Senior Administrator and Chief Operating Officer before being promoted to Assistant Vice President/Deputy Athletic Director in 2025. He has served as sport administrator for baseball, men's basketball, women's volleyball, women's fencing, men's volleyball, women's lacrosse and cheerleading. Young oversees the equipment, marketing, media relations and business offices at FDU, in addition to his role on the executive staff.

"This means so much to me and my family and a dream come true. I can't thank President Avaltroni, Frank Barra, and Brad Hurlbut enough for their belief in me to lead the department and our student-athletes," commented Young. "The last seven years have been incredibly gratifying as our department has reached new heights. Our success across the board makes this promotion all that more meaningful and we can continue to build upon it."

Since joining FDU Athletics, Young has played a pivotal role in elevating the department through strategic partnerships, facility enhancements, and program expansion. In 2024, he negotiated the first naming rights sponsorship agreement in department history and secured the largest sponsorship deal in FDU Athletics history with Bogota Savings Bank, resulting in the transformation of the Rothman Center into the Bogota Savings Bank Center. In 2025, Young orchestrated a partnership that made Hackensack Meridian Health the official medical provider of the Knights. Later, he negotiated the department's largest-ever apparel partnership with Macron, making FDU the first collegiate institution in the United States to partner with the Bologna-based company. These moves intentionally aligned FDU with other major brands and raised their own profile. 
 
Young has also spearheaded several transformational capital and facility initiatives across the department. This is highlighted by the $1.4 million renovation of the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex in 2024. In addition, he oversaw extensive branding and signage enhancements throughout FDU's athletic facilities, which significantly improved the external appearance of the department and enhanced the fan experience. The signage includes FDU's new marks and brandings, which were created in 2023. Young was an influential part of this visual rebrand for FDU, as he led collaboration efforts with VPCO.

Young played a pivotal role in the addition of men's volleyball and women's lacrosse, the first new varsity sports added by the University since 2006. Working alongside the First Point Volleyball Foundation, Young helped secure a four-year grant to support the launch of the men's volleyball program. Internally, he developed the Knights' graduate assistant program, creating 40 additional graduate assistant positions across the department. This expanded professional development opportunities for young administrators and coaches at FDU.

In 2025, Young further demonstrated his commitment to professional growth and leadership development by completing the NCAA Pathways Program.

"Our core belief in providing educational opportunities through sport will never waver," continued Young. "Our student-athletes have proven they can achieve anything they dream of. We've had All-Americans, National Champions, Olympians and some March Madness legends. Off the field FDU students can reach the moon, own an NFL franchise, and change the world. I look forward to helping our student-athletes maximize their potential, while providing them a truly transformational experience."

Young will replace FDU's current Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Bradford Hurlbut, who announced his retirement last week after seven years of leadership.

"Over the course of my tenure at FDU, Jason has continuously shown to be passionate, innovative and determined," remarked Hurlbut. "He is one of the best hires I have ever made, and I could not be more pleased that he will be my successor. This is an extremely exciting day, as Jason is the right person to lead this next chapter of Knights Athletics."

Hurlbut and Young worked side-by-side on several key coaching hires. This includes the hiring of former head men's basketball coach Tobin Anderson, who led FDU to the Round of 32 in his first and only season with the Knights. Young also brought in former head women's volleyball coach David Nguyen, which resulted in FDU's first-ever NEC Women's Volleyball Championship.

Prior to his tenure at FDU, Young served as the Director of Ticketing Operations at the University of Vermont. Before his transition to athletic administration, Young was an assistant coach with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G-League for two seasons. He previously was an assistant coach at Newberry College in South Carolina.
 
Young received his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Ithaca in 2012, before earning his MBA from Saint Leo in 2015.

Young will begin his duties as Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics on July 1.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"I was thrilled to learn of Jason's appointment as Director of Athletics at FDU. Jason cares deeply about the role of athletics in the education and development of young people. I'm confident his leadership and ability to communicate to students, staff and faculty will resonate. He will represent the institution well." - Peter Roby, Former Athletic Director (Dartmouth and Northeastern)

"FDU Athletics is in highly capable hands. Jason is a bright, innovative, and highly motivated leader who cares deeply about student athletes and their holistic well-being.  His combination of business acumen and administrative experience in college athletics will position him well for success in today's highly dynamic world of intercollegiate athletics." – Jeff Schulman, Vermont Director of Athletics

"Jason Young is an excellent choice to carry on the momentum built at FDU under Brad Hurlbut. Jason is a forward-thinker who has been instrumental in the department's rise since arriving on campus in 2019. Jason is a talented administrator and effective communicator who will have success connecting with important stakeholders that are vital to the success of FDU's athletic programs, including student-athletes, coaches, alumni, campus partners, donors and corporate leaders. He has prepared himself well for this opportunity and I look forward to watching him lead his own Division I athletics department in the NEC." – Ryan Bamford, UMass Director of Athletics    

"Jason will represent the FDU community with honor and integrity. He is one of the smartest minds in college athletics. What a great hire! I can't wait to watch him grow as a person and help the FDU Athletic Department reach new heights." – Nevada Smith, Siena Men's Basketball Coach

"Jason has been a true asset to Knights Athletics and the University at large. He has been instrumental in transforming all aspects of the department and has raised the profile of FDU. I look forward to working with him in this elevated role and continue supporting him in accomplishing his goals." – Frank Barra, Fairleigh Dickinson University Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

About FDU Athletics
FDU is home to 23 NCAA Division I teams. A member of the NEC, the Knights have had tremendous success in the classroom, in athletic competition as well as giving back to the Bergen County community. FDU became the first school in Northeast Conference (NEC) history to win championships in women's volleyball, women's soccer, and men's soccer in the same season (2022). In 2023, the Burgundy and Blue also became the first NEC school to win two games as a 16-seed in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, including an upset over top-seeded Purdue. As a result of its incredible 2022–23 season, FDU placed 92nd in the Learfield Director's Cup, the first NEC program to finish in the Top 100. In 2024 Salif Mane captured the Triple Jump title at the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, went on to win the gold medal at the Team USA Olympic Trials, and competed at the Paris Olympics. In 2025, FDU won four conference championships in the span of 35 days in women's basketball, women's bowling, women's golf, and women's tennis. Off the field, FDU student-athletes were recognized for their efforts in the community by winning the NEC Building Communities Award in 2020, 2024 and 2025. In addition to recent championships, FDU holds five additional national championships, three in sport of women's fencing and two in women's bowling.