Saint Joseph’s University President Cheryl A. McConnell, PhD, announced on May 4, 2026, that Ashwin “Ash” Puri has been named the University’s new vice president and director of athletics, effective Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Puri joins Saint Joseph’s from La Salle University and brings with him more than two decades of experience as a leader in collegiate and professional sports, including senior roles at Villanova University, the University of California Berkeley, the Oakland Athletics, the NBA and the NFL.
In Puri’s new role, he will lead a division comprising approximately 500 student-athletes across 21 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s varsity programs competing in the Atlantic 10 Conference, as well as robust club sports and campus recreation programs. Puri steps into an athletics program that has built real momentum across its teams, competed on the national stage, brought home conference titles, and established a culture of excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
Puri has been a leader in collegiate and professional sports for more than 20 years. Most recently, he served as vice president for athletics and recreation, and director of athletics, at La Salle University, where he oversaw a comprehensive program rooted in academic excellence and holistic student development. He has also held senior leadership roles with Villanova, the NBA and Oakland Athletics, where he spearheaded a program that introduced recent college graduates to the sports industry, developed a new membership access program and managed $60 million annually.
Throughout his career, Puri has established himself as one of the most versatile and dynamic athletic administrators in the country. He has led programs through transformative growth — building revenue streams, modernizing facilities, elevating academic cultures and positioning institutions for long-term success.
His experience spans the full breadth of sports, from Division I athletics to the MLB, NBA and NFL, giving him a unique perspective on what it takes to build and sustain a winning organization. Whether negotiating landmark partnerships, leading high-profile coaching searches or championing student-athlete development, Puri has consistently demonstrated the vision, culture and drive that define great athletics leadership.
Puri is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Management.
