On Sept. 11, Fordham’s Athletic Department announced that Ed Kull, Fordham’s Athletic Director (AD) accepted the AD position at St. John’s University, thus leaving Fordham. Kull’s last day with Fordham was Sept. 13, after which Charlie Elwood, the now former deputy athletic director, took his place as interim athletic director.
Kull first joined Fordham Athletics in 2017 and by 2020 Fordham appointed him the interim director of athletics. On Feb. 19, 2021, Kull officially assumed the director of athletics role at Fordham.
According to Fordham Athletics, under Kulls leadership the athletics department set a record high in fundraising in the last fiscal year.
Kull’s tenure at Fordham was incredibly fruitful both on and off the field. Along with title successes across the many Fordham athletic teams, Kull made strides in the revenue and fundraising foundations of the Fordham Athletics program.
The coaching staff of the Men’s Basketball team at Fordham saw successful changes under Kull’s leadership. Kull hired former basketball head coach, Kyle Neptune, with whom the men’s basketball team reached the Atlantic 10 (A10) Tournament quarterfinals for the first time since 2007. After Neptune’s departure in the spring of the 2021-22 season, Kull promoted the Associate Head Coach Keith Urgo. The shift to Urgo only saw more improvement as the team clinched a spot in the A10 semifinals for the second time in team history.
The Fordham Athletics department’s funding under Kull’s tenure flourished as Kull was imperative to increased revenue and fundraising. According to Fordham Athletics, under Kulls leadership the athletics department set a record high in fundraising in the last fiscal year. Kull helped raise $7.6 million for the Fordham athletics program, surpassing the previous year marker by $2.5 million.
Along with program fundraising Kull was instrumental in signing deals between the program and outside sponsors. In 2023 the athletics department announced that Fordham signed a multiyear deal with Nike to be the exclusive apparel and footwear provider for the athletic program.
During the 2023-24 season the athletic program introduced a new Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program called The Rose Hill Exchange. According to the announcement of the program on the Fordham Athletics website the NIL portal helps connect Fordham student-athletes with local organizations.
“With our unique location in New York City, The Rose Hill Exchange is a great step forward in our efforts, as local businesses, donors, alumni, and fans who want to connect with Fordham and our outstanding student-athletes for NIL opportunities can now do so in one central location. We are thrilled to give our Rams another resource in the NIL space,” Kull stated in the announcement on the Fordham Athletics page.
Kull reflected on his time at Fordham University with a statement posted to the Fordham Athletics Instagram page.
“My time at Fordham has been nothing short of amazing, I have been honored to be part of the Ramily for the past seven years and I am immensely proud of the work we have done to further this storied institution,” Kull shared.
