DeJong Brought On Board as Associate Director of Athletics
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Dec. 23, 2013) - On Monday, Director of Athletics and Recreation
Bryan Collins (Sayville, N.Y.) announced the hiring of
Debbie DeJong (Oakdale, N.Y.) as LIU Post's Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator.
DeJong takes over for
Shantey Hill, who accepted a position as the Director of Athletics at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue, N.Y. She is responsible for handling the day-to-day responsibilities of overseeing athletic compliance for the Pioneers' 22 NCAA Division II varsity programs. DeJong will also advise Collins in establishing administrative policies and procedures that aid in achieving athletic goals and maintaining sound academic standards.
"I am extremely excited to be joining the LIU Post staff," said DeJong. "There is such a rich tradition within athletics here, and I look forward to having the opportunity to be a part of their growth."
Prior to coming to LIU Post, DeJong spent seven years (2006-13) at fellow 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 advanced to five ECC Championships (won in 2010), and four NCAA Division II Tournaments.
From 2000-06, DeJong managed the day-to-day operations of the softball program at Division I St. John's University, working four as an assistant coach (2000-04), and two as a head coach (2004-06). While there, she implemented a recruiting plan to broaden the Red Storm's pipeline from a regional to nationwide effort, developed strategies to enhance alumni involvement, and coordinated the development of a mentoring program for incoming freshmen softball players to improve retention rates.
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.
DeJong currently resides in Oakdale, N.Y. with her wife, Melody, and son, Tyler.