BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (May 15, 2017) - On Monday, LIU Post announced that Debbie DeJong will be elevated to the position of Director of Athletics and Recreation.
 
DeJong will take over for Bryan Collins, who has led the program for the past 11 years and enjoyed both growth and success. Collins will remain with LIU Post as Head Football Coach.
 
DeJong previously served as Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at LIU Post from 2013-17.
 
"I am honored to follow in the footsteps of such extraordinary leaders and look forward to help write the next chapter of Pioneer athletics," said DeJong. "Bryan Collins has done a remarkable job leading our department for a decade. I am excited to build upon the tradition of success here at LIU Post."
 
"Debbie DeJong is a leader who understands the importance of success both on and off the field and she will make an excellent Director of Athletics," LIU Chief of Administration and Student Affairs Joseph Schaefer said.  "Bryan Collins has had a very successful tenure as Director of Athletics and we support his decision to concentrate on leading our successful football program."
 
In her former capacity, DeJong was responsible for handling the day-to-day responsibilities of overseeing athletic compliance for the Pioneers' 24 NCAA Division II varsity programs. She also advised Collins in establishing administrative policies and procedures that aid in achieving athletic goals and maintaining sound academic standards.
 
Additionally, DeJong served as lead administrator for several of the Pioneers' prominent programs, including the nationally-ranked football, field hockey, women's basketball, volleyball and baseball teams.
 
"LIU Post is fortunate to have Debbie DeJong lead the department's efforts into the future," Collins stated. "She has distinguished herself throughout her career as a strong leader with a commitment to furthering the development of the student-athlete, as well as the entire department. I am excited to continue to work with her, as this new era begins."
 
Prior to coming to LIU Post, DeJong spent seven years (2006-13) at former East Coast Conference institution Dowling College, six of which were served as the Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Recreation. In that capacity, she supervised the areas of athletic facilities, game-day operations and campus recreation. Other duties included assisting with the development of a strategic plan, and the supervision of a full-time staff, interns, graduate assistants and approximately 200 student workers.

In five years of that stretch (2008-13), DeJong was the Head Softball Coach at Dowling. She compiled a record of 180-81 (.689) in her tenure patrolling the Golden Lions' dugout. Her squads secured a total of five ECC Championship appearances (won in 2010), and four NCAA Division II Tournament bids.

DeJong graduated from Rutgers University in May 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and got her master's in Elementary Education from St. John's in 2002.
 
In his 11-year tenure as Director of Athletics, Collins led the Pioneers to several No. 1 rankings in the East Region in the NACDA Division II Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Standings and six East Coast Conference Commissioner's Cups.
 
"I am extremely proud of the achievements of the LIU Post Department of Athletics over the past decade," said Collins. "I would like to thank the administration, coaches, support staff, and most importantly, our student-athletes, for their commitment."
 
His leadership has also seen four teams and four individuals capture NCAA Division II National Championships, as well as the installation of FieldTurf and a state-of-the-art press box and sound system at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium at LIU Post.
 
Off the field, Collins' commitment to hard work in the classroom consistently saw an increase in the department's overall grade-point average. The Pioneers have led the East Coast Conference for each of the past five years in selections to the league's Commissioner's Honor Roll. Additionally, a combined 78 student-athletes between the school's football and field hockey programs were named to the Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in the Fall 2016 semester.
 
"As we continue to grow as a University and an athletic department, the Director of Athletics needs to be devoted full-time to these efforts," Collins added. "It has been my honor to have held this position and it is now time to focus my attention to our football program. I will still very much be a part of this journey and continue to support all of our athletic teams and student-athletes from the sidelines."