Madison, NJ (June 1) – After spending 17 years at FDU-Florham, including the last four as Director of Athletics, Jenn Noon has resigned from her position in Madison and has accepted the position of Athletic Director at Gill St. Bernard's Private School in Peapack-Gladstone, NJ. Noon will begin her new job at Gill St. Bernard's on August 1, 2022.

Gill St. Bernard's is a private, coeducational day school for students age three through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provides a rigorous, meaningful, and age-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning opportunities that exist on the 208-acre campus.

Noon became the fourth Director of Athletics in FDU-Florham history on June 1, 2018 and changed the culture of Devils Athletics. Coach Noon, as she is referred to by coaches, support staff and student-athletes, promoted an environment of constant learning, pushing her coaches to get better and improve every day.

"I am forever grateful for my time at FDU, especially within the Devils Athletic Department. I would like to thank President Christopher Capuano for allowing me to lead the Division III Athletics Department to new heights especially during a period of strategic change and a global pandemic," said Noon. "To the entire FDU community, I am grateful for the relationships I was able to create with remarkable students, devoted staff, passionate faculty, and engaged alumni. My time as a Devil has been more than rewarding and FDU will always hold a special place in my heart. As one-chapter closes, I wish the Devils Family much success in the future, and I am confident the heat will continue to rise. Horns Up!"

During her four years as Director of Athletics, Noon transformed the department with the hiring of many of the current head coaches including Jeff Slanovec (Men's Basketball/Golf), Jamie Quinn (Baseball), Maura Johnston (Field Hockey), Keith O'Connor (Men's Soccer), John Cahill (Cross Country), Katy Fissel (Women's Golf), Evan Mager (Women's Lacrosse), Bridget Rafter (Softball), Kendall Luy (Track and Field), Reggie Daniels (Women's Basketball) and Bob Bynum (Men's and Women's Tennis).

Additionally, she was responsible for restructuring the department, naming Pat Scarpello Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and Operations, Kristin Giotta Associate Director of Athletics Compliance, Max Berkowitz the Sports Information Director, Jesse Boyland the Head Athletic Trainer, Rory Gallagher the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and promoting Terry VanAuken to Athletics Business Manager.

"Jenn Noon has had a tremendous impact on FDU and our Devils athletics program," said FDU President Christopher Capuano. "She has led a period of significant growth and achievement, including important facilities additions, major triumphs for teams and an even greater record of success for student-athletes in the classroom." 

Coach Noon revamped the athletic department, securing an Under Armour partnership for all 23 teams and oversaw the creation of a new FDU athletics logo. She also oversaw the completion and ribbon cuttings of both Elizabeth Ruth Hennessy Field, the new home for FDU-Florham soccer, lacrosse and track & field, and Vincent J. and Lenda F. Naimoli Ballpark as well as the resurfacing of the FDU-Florham Tennis Courts.

With the addition of the Elizabeth Ruth Hennessy complex, came the addition of both men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field increasing the total number of sports that FDU offers from 19 to 23.

"Jenn has been an outstanding and recognized leader for the Devils athletic program and was extremely dedicated to our student-athletes," said Robert Pignatello, Senior Vice President for University Operations at FDU. "She leaves an enduring legacy of success and advancement in many areas and we wish her only the best in her new position."

The Hennessy Field complex, which officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 25, 2021, includes a full-synthetic turf field, eight lane track, video scoreboard and a 40-space parking lot. New locker room facilities, press box and bleachers are in the plans for the future of Elizabeth Ruth Hennessy Field.

Noon also oversaw the construction of Vincent J. and Lenda F. Naimoli Ballpark and its official ribbon cutting on October 11, 2021. Vincent J. and Lenda F. Naimoli Ballpark, the new home of the FDU-Florham baseball team, sports a full double-play dark chocolate synthetic turf, a state-of-the-art press box, two sunken down dugouts, two 70-foot batting cages and five total bullpens.

During Noon's four years as Director of Athletics, Devils Athletics has made great strides on the field and in the classroom. FDU secured two MAC Freedom Field Hockey Championships, two Field Hockey NCAA Tournament victories, two MAC Freedom Women's Lacrosse Championships, the first MAC Freedom Swimming Champion in school history, 38 MAC Freedom Tournament and MAC Championship appearances and nine ECAC tournament appearances concluding with ECAC Championship titles for both football and baseball during the 2021-22 academic year.

In the fall of 2021, the FDU-Florham football team under the direction of MAC Freedom Coach of the Year Jimmy Robertson, had one of the best seasons in program history, registered seven wins and won the ECAC James Lynah Bowl for the first time.

In the classroom, Devils student-athletes continue to set records, with 786 Devils earning a MAC Academic Honor Roll selection, recording a 3.2 GPA or higher, since Noon took over as Director of Athletics. The spring 2020 semester was a record breaker for Devils Athletics, finishing the semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.52, the highest ever cumulative GPA for the department. In addition, 236 student-athletes posted a 3.2 GPA or higher and 67 student-athletes finished with a 4.0 GPA.

Noon was instrumental in raising money for the Department of Athletics at FDU over the past four years. Over the past four '42 Hours of Giving' Days, Devils Athletics has raised over $100,000 from nearly 2,000 donors to improve the student-athlete experience at FDU. Noon was heavily involved in the Robert T. Shields Alumni Golf Outing, which saw over $75,000 raised in four years.

On November 30, 2021 the FDU Devils took part in the 24-Hour Challenge and MAC Fundraising Challenge on Giving Tuesday. As a department, the Devils raised over $32,000 from 137 donors and finished second in the MAC Fundraising Challenge.

Under Noon's guidance, FDU-Florham athletics adapted the One Team mentality, offering an environment that strives for diversity, inclusion and respect from all student-athlete's coaches and administrators. This was made apparent, when FDU Devils Athletics was nominated for the NCAA LGBTQ Division III Athletic Department of the Year award and former women's basketball head coach Melissa Brooks, was nominated for the NCAA LGBTQ Division III Administrator of the Year award.

After the NCAA Convention in January of 2020, the NCAA mandated the need for a Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator on each campus. Noon named Brooks as the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, empowering her, along Johnston and Quinn, to create the Fuel to the Fire Leadership Academy and multiple student led organizations, including Athletes for Change and Equality (ACE) and Sporting Strong Minds. After hiring Reggie Daniels as the women's basketball head coach in the summer of 2021, Noon named him as the Department's NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID).

In addition, Noon took over as the Chair of the FDU-Florham Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. Since she started as Director of Athletics in 2018, Noon and the entire committee inducted a total of 23 former student-athletes and administrators as well as three prolific Devils teams into the Hall of Fame.

As an administrator, Noon has received multiple recognitions for her leadership and dedication to Fairleigh Dickinson University and NCAA athletics. During her career, she received the Garden State Award for substantial and enduring contributions to intercollegiate athletics, the FDU Pillar Award for outstanding service to the University and earned the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Champion Award in the spring of 2022.

Noon was heavily involved with the NCAA and National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), where she served on the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Committee and was named Chair of the National Committee in 2018. She also served on the Regional Ranking Committee for women's golf and field hockey, the Coach of the Year Committee, and the All-American Selection Committee.

At the 2015 NCAA Convention, she received the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) Transitioning Athletic Administrator Award for her transition from head coach to administrator. Along with her presence on NCAA committees, Noon also served on the Athletic Directors Board for the Middle Atlantic Conference from July 2018 through July 2021 as well as the MAC Hall of Fame Committee.

During her coaching career, Noon amassed 118 wins, the most in the program's history. Noon led the field hockey team to a postseason berth in seven of her eight seasons as head coach.  Over her final four seasons, the field hockey team posted three 15-win seasons and one 18-win season, culminating in MAC Freedom Championship titles in 2014 and 2018, while advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament both seasons. The 2014 NCAA appearance was the first for Field Hockey since 1986.

In 2016, Noon guided Kim Davis '16 to First Team NFHCA All-American honors, this was a first in program history. Noon was also tabbed as the MAC Freedom Coach of the Year four times in her coaching tenure.

In addition to coaching field hockey, Noon was the Head Women's Golf Coach from the program's inception in 2010 and held the title until she became Athletic Director in 2018. Noon guided Jordan Durham '16 to being named MAC Player of the Year, MAC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Conference as a freshman.

A standout field hockey player at Rutgers University, Noon was named First Team All-Big East in 2003. She was also captain of the field hockey team as a senior and a three-time All-Academic student-athlete. In 2002, she earned the field hockey team's "Mission Statement Award" and was named to the National Academic Team. Noon received her Master of Public Administration in 2010 from FDU and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Higher Education from FDU.
 
While a search for Noon's successor takes place, Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations and Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Pat Scarpello and Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Head Women's Soccer Coach Kristin Giotta will serve as co-athletic directors on an interim basis.

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