Simon Gray, who has been at the helm of the Niagara University Athletics Department since 2014, was appointed Associate Vice President for Athletics in July 2022.
Gray has maintained a keen focus on the student-athlete experience for nearly 350 student-athletes in NU’s 18 Division I sports programs. Gray has built a vision within the department that emphasizes excelling in the classroom, in competition, and in service to the community.
Under Gray’s leadership, the Purple Eagles have achieved department records in both Graduation Success Rate (95%) and Academic Progress Rate, as well as a record-setting GPA among the collective student-athlete population. Since Gray joined the Niagara University community, the student-athlete cohort has had greater than a 3.0 GPA each year. In this past season alone, the hockey team set a program record and led the conference with 29 Atlantic Hockey All-Academic honorees, and a total of 186 student-athletes earned All-Academic honors.
Niagara’s athletic programs have also had competitive success, with the women’s swimming and diving team winning the MAAC Championship for the first time in program history this past season and the department as a whole earning its highest MAAC Commissioner’s Cup finish since 2011-12.
During Gray’s tenure, 152 student-athletes have earned all-conference honors. The Purple Eagles have had 21 major award winners.
In addition to his work in athletics, Gray is a leader on campus and serves as an engaged member of the President’s Cabinet, providing critical insight and thinking to guide the university. Gray has worked collaboratively with faculty and campus administrators to elevate not only athletics, but the university as a whole. He has played a critical role in a number of campus working groups and committees, including the Forward Niagara task force and the Inclusive Excellence climate and intergroup relations subcommittee. His leadership and visionary thinking are also reflected in his department’s strategic plan, which aligns with “What Must Be Done,” the university’s strategic plan.
The Department of Athletics has also set new fundraising records in five of Gray’s eight years, and he has managed nearly $5 million in campus and athletics facilities enhancements, including those in the Gallagher Center and Dwyer Arena.
A recognized leader within the athletics field, Simon is currently serving as chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee, and he just completed a year as president of the I-AAA Athletics Directors Association.
Gray has led the charge for improvements in a number of the university's athletic facilities which benefit both the Niagara student-athletes and fans. These improvements include major renovations made to Bobo Field, the home of Niagara baseball; the Hall of Fame atrium in the Gallagher Center, installation of video displays in the Gallagher Center and Dwyer Arena, and renovations of the Vincent O'Malley Strength & Conditioning Center.
Gray was named the Niagara University director of athletics on May 16, 2014. Gray, who came to Monteagle Ridge with over 15 years of college athletic administration experience, spent the previous nine years at Eastern Kentucky University, where he served in a number of roles in the athletic department, including two separate stints as the acting athletic director (Jan. 2013-July 2013 and Jan. 2014-May 2014).
In August 2011, Gray was promoted to senior associate athletics director where he oversaw all internal operations while assisting then-director of athletics Mark Sandy with the day-to-day operations of the department. Gray supervised the compliance office, served as the administrator for sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and was the sport administrator for the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Gray previously served as EKU’s associate athletics director for advancement from July 2005 to July 2011. Gray was the primary contact for development and corporate partnerships, while overseeing athletic public relations, marketing and promotions, and ticket operations. Under Gray’s tutelage, the department had a 70 percent increase in fundraising revenue.
Prior to EKU, Gray was the director of athletics public relations at his alma mater, the University of Richmond, from 2001-05. Gray was the director of athletic media relations at East Tennessee State from 1999-2001. Gray began his career as an athletic media relations intern at Boston College from 1998-99 where he was the media contact for the nationally ranked ice hockey team.
The Pittsburgh, Pa., native earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Richmond and a Master of Science degree in sport administration from Eastern Kentucky.
Gray is married to the former Anne Christine Alessandra of Grasse, France. Anne, the 1997 Southern Conference Women’s Golf Freshman of the Year, graduated from East Tennessee State with the lowest scoring average in program history. The couple has three daughters, Emilie, Elisabeth, and Caroline.
