After an exhaustive search process which took into account many qualified candidates, Chestnut Hill College is excited to announce that Jesse Balcer, M.S., has been appointed as the new full-time athletic director.
“I feel so lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to work with Chestnut Hill College as the leader of the athletic department,” Balcer said. “In the time I’ve been a part of this community, I have always tried to put the mission of the college at the forefront so earning this position is very satisfying. I am going to do my best to continue the work started by Lynn Tubman, my mentor and dear friend. The student-athletes at Chestnut Hill College will leave a lasting impression on our institution and I want their athletic experience to leave a lasting impression on them.”
A 15-year history with CHC, Balcer first came to the college in 2003 when he was hired to lead the men’s basketball program in its inaugural season. Through Balcer’s leadership, the men’s basketball program, which was the college’s first male sport addition, has seen tremendous growth. The program was the first at the college, male or female, to reach the postseason following CHC’s reclassification to NCAA Division II status in 2007. In seven of his first 10 seasons in NCAA DII, Balcer led the Griffins to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference postseason appearances. Prior to this, Balcer led the team to the semifinals of the NCAA DIII championship tournament in 2004-05, just his second year as head coach.
Always stressing the importance of his role not just as coach but as mentor to his players, Balcer’s role in their success cannot be understated. In his 15 years, Balcer fostered the talent of eight All-CACC student-athletes and the college’s eight 1,000-point scorers. The college’s leading scorer, Isaac Greer, who graduated as part of Balcer’s first senior class in 2007, was a two-time North Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year as well as an inductee in the college’s inaugural Hall of Fame class. His backcourt partner, Shawn Bolling, was also named to the Hall of Fame in 2014. In addition to success on the court, Balcer has coached five Athletic Director’s Award winners, the highest honor an athlete can receive at Chestnut Hill College and one that recognizes achievements both on and off the courts and fields.
A former NEAC Coach of the Year and Philadelphia-Area Small College Coaches Association Coach of the Year, Balcer was elevated from head coach to head coach and assistant director of athletics upon joining the staff fulltime in 2008. Four years later, he became an associate director, at which point Balcer began to really take on responsibilities and experiences that helped prepare him to take over the head athletic director position when it became available in the summer of 2018. Stepping into the role on an interim basis, Balcer helped to usher in a smooth start to the fall season. His leadership and familiarity with the college was a huge support over the past few months and will be even more so going forward as CHC looks to continue its athletic growth and build upon its recent successes.
In his role as assistant and then associate athletic director, Balcer assisted in the management of all intercollegiate and intramural athletic programs offered at the college, a number which now sits at 18, as well as the administrative, operational, business and compliance functions of the department in accordance with policies and procedures of the NCAA. Primarily, he was an integral part of the college’s transition from DIII to DII and played a significant role in the recent additions of three varsity sports to the department. Balcer also helped negotiate two huge contracts, the first to make Brittingham’s Pub the official restaurant of Griffin Nation and the second to make the college a Nike sponsored school which generates $7,500 worth of product annually. 
Active throughout the conference as well, Balcer serves on various NCAA committees including regional advisory committees for women’s tennis (since 2013), men’s basketball (since 2014) and women’s lacrosse (since 2015). In addition, Balcer currently serves as chair of the National Women’s Lacrosse Committee, a position he was elected to in 2016.
“I have great confidence in Jesse’s leadership and his ability to take the athletic department to the next level,” said College President Sister Carol Jean Vale, Ph.D. “Jesse’s vision for the future of Athletics is consistent with the College’s mission and strategic goals for the future and he is committed to the holistic success of our student-athletes in the classroom, on the field, and in life.”
