JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Saint Peter's University's Director of Athletics Rachelle Paul has announced her resignation to pursue an opportunity at the University of Miami. Her last day will be Friday, August 25.
"My time leading Peacock Athletics has afforded me a number of experiences and opportunities that I would not have had anywhere else and for that, I am eternally grateful," Paul said. "I want to thank the many student-athletes, coaches, administrators and staff that I have had the distinct honor and pleasure of serving. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished together and wish Saint Peter's Athletics the very best in the years to come."
Paul was announced as the institution's tenth Director of Athletics on October 30, 2019. Saint Peter's had tremendous success under Paul in four years at the helm of the athletic department.
The Peacock brand was elevated during Paul's time as leader of the athletic department. This was highlighted by the SPU men's basketball team's run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament during the 2021-22 season. The Peacocks became the first #15 seed in NCAA Tournament history to advance to the regional final after they knocked off national powerhouses #2 University of Kentucky, #7 Murray State University, and #3 Purdue University.
Additionally, Paul oversaw the renovation of the Victor R. Yanitelli Recreation Life Center with the establishment of "Run Baby Run Arena." That year, the men's soccer team earned the #2 seed in the MAAC Tournament, and the softball team won over 20 games for the first time since 2007. Academically, the Peacocks tied a single-year Graduation Success Rate (GSR) with 95% of student-athletes achieving graduation.
In the Buffalo native's second year, the SPU women's basketball program advanced to the MAAC Tournament Championship game for the first time since 2002. Both the men's and women's track and field teams produced top-six finishes with multiple individual conference champions. The men's soccer team earned a spot in the MAAC Championship and hosted a first-round game for the second straight season. In the classroom, the Peacocks placed 143 student-athletes on the MAAC Academic Honor Roll.
During Paul's first academic year as the leader of the athletic department, Saint Peter's witnessed one of the program's best athletic seasons in nearly 30 years, placing second in the 2019-20 MAAC Pepsi Zero Commissioner's Cup Men's Standings. The runner-up finish was the department's second highest outcome in program history behind a first place finish on the men's side in 1993-94. The men's soccer team earned their first MAAC regular season title since 2010. The SPU men's basketball team broke records as the Peacocks went 14-6 in MAAC play, and tied a program record for most league wins in a season.
Katie Arcuri, senior associate athletics director for compliance and student-athlete development/senior women's administrator, has been appointed to serve as the interim director of athletics following Rachelle's departure. The process of selecting a new director of athletics will commence shortly.
