La Salle names Jarett Gerald as its new director of athletics

La Salle has found its new athletic director after Ash Puri departed from 20th and Olney for the same job at St. Joseph’s.

The university announced Monday that Jarett Gerald will take over as vice president of athletics & recreation and director of athletics, starting in August. He’ll oversee the school’s 23 Division I programs, while managing a recreation department that serves nearly 3,500 students.

“We are building tremendous momentum across our university, and I believe Jarett is exactly the kind of leader who will accelerate that momentum within Explorer Athletics,” wrote La Salle President Daniel J. Allen. “He understands that athletics is about far more than competition. It is about developing young people, strengthening our university, inspiring alumni and donors, and elevating the La Salle experience for our student-athletes and our entire campus community.”

» READ MORE: La Salle AD Ash Puri leaving to take the same role at St. Joseph’s

Gerald, who has spent 15 years in college athletics, previously served as assistant athletics director for major gifts at the University of Missouri, where he developed a naming rights and an endowment strategy, and secured six- and seven-figure commitments from donors.

“Great institutions are built by people who believe deeply in a purpose greater than themselves,” Gerald wrote. “Throughout this process, I came to appreciate the strong foundation of faith, hope, and service that defines La Salle, along with the shared belief that the university’s best days are still ahead.”

Prior to Mizzou, the Columbia, S.C. native spent about four years at Duke, where he moved roles from director of revenue strategy and associate director of administrative operations to the major gifts officer. He was credited for landing $11 million in athletic commitments, including multiple seven-figure gifts.