Montclair State University Names Robert Chesney Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

Robert Chesney ‘90 has been appointed Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Montclair State University following a national search, effective June 24, 2019.

Chesney had served as interim athletics director after longtime AD Holly Gera retired in December of 2018.

He takes over the role at a watershed moment for Montclair State University Athletics. The University has grown to become New Jersey’s second-largest university. It has launched more than 80 new graduate programs, built outstanding new facilities, and has been designated as both a New Jersey public research university and a national research doctoral institution. Building on this momentum, Montclair State now aspires to become widely known as one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the country.

“Rob is the ideal person to lead Red Hawk Athletics at this point in its history,” says Montclair State University President Susan A. Cole. “His vision of what a premier Division III athletics program can yield for the University and our students, and his commitment to excellence and integrity, make him the right choice to move our program into an ambitious new era.”

“It is a tremendous honor to serve in this position,” says Chesney. “I am grateful to President Cole and Vice President Karen Pennington, for giving me this opportunity. And I am extremely proud to be working in an athletic department with outstanding coaches, staff and student athletes. Our goal is to build on the historic tradition of athletics at Montclair State and on the current strong program to excel in coaching, to compete successfully for championships, to provide an excellent educational experience for our student athletes, and to maintain the highest standards of integrity, service and academic achievement.”

Over more than 30 years as a Montclair State player, coach and administrator, Chesney contributed to the department’s many notable successes, which include an NCAA Tournament Final Two appearance by the women’s field hockey team in 2013, a Final Four appearance by the women’s basketball team in 2015, and an Elite Eight appearance by the men’s soccer team in 2018, as well as improvements to Sprague Field (football, field hockey and lacrosse) and Yogi Berra Stadium (baseball).

He played a key role in the creation of a partnership with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls that led to the multi-million-dollar expansion of the MSU Soccer Park, where the Red Bulls reserve team has played since the 2017 season.

As a member of the men’s soccer team, Chesney was a two-time All-American and four-time All-Conference honoree. As head soccer coach, he compiled a 128-64-18 record and led his team to five NCAA Tournament appearances and one ECAC Metro title.

Montclair State fields 18 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s teams comprised of 475 student athletes. The program has a long tradition of excellence, winning five team national championships and 28 individual national championships, and having more than 280 of its athletes named All-Americans.

To learn more about Montclair State University Athletics, visit montclairathletics.com.