Joseph Del Rossi has been appointed as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Director of Sacred Heart University’s Pioneer Club.  Combining skills gleaned from positions in the private sector and in higher education, Del Rossi brings Sacred Heart University a broad background in business leadership, development and acumen in Division I athletics – all pivotal to this role.

The Pioneer Club is the official fundraising arm of Sacred Heart Athletics. The goal of the Pioneer Club is to raise money to help meet immediate needs of SHU sport programs, such as facility enhancements, equipment needs, team travel expenses and scholarships. Sacred Heart is home to 31 varsity sports and in 1999, was elevated to Division I as a member of the Northeast Conference.

“I was attracted to Sacred Heart University because of the immense growth it’s seen in the last several years similar to what Seton Hall saw when I was there, its strong athletic program, its Catholic mission, and all the potential that lies ahead,” said Del Rossi.

Parlaying skills gleaned from both positions in the private sector and in higher education, Del Rossi brings a great deal of experience to SHU. In his role, Del Rossi looks forward to expanding the Pioneer Club’s presence in the community and to further engage alumni, parents, former student athletes -- and fans.

Where does Del Rossi envision the Pioneer Club being in the next decade?

“In ten years I want the Pioneer Club to be a strong, reliable external revenue source for the Department of Athletics," he said. "I feel that in 10 years time we should have 2,500-3,000 donors and generate more than $1,000,000 annually for Pioneer Athletics."

Before his arrival at Sacred Heart, the Cherry Hill, N.J. native worked at Seton Hall University as director of the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund.  In that role, he oversaw the design and implementation of the Richie and Sue Regan Endowed Fund for Athletics, Seton Hall’s first capital campaign for athletics with a goal of $5 million. 

Within 14 months under Del Rossi’s leadership and expertise, the campaign generated nearly $3 million in gifts and pledges. Prior to overseeing Pirate Blue Athletic Fund, Del Rossi served as Seton Hall’s director of University Events and Men’s Basketball Administrative Assistant.

Most recently, Del Rossi was an outside sales representative for Callaway Golf and oversaw sales in the Maryland and Virginia territories. He holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources Training and Development from Seton Hall where he also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Business Administration.

“My seven years of sales experience in the corporate sector gave me a great opportunity to work with small business owners and see what they do on a daily basis -- from purchasing to merchandising to marketing to advertising to sales to managing their staff,” said Del Rossi. “My time with Callaway also gave me a great understanding of consumer buying habits. Each of these experiences will assist me in reinvigorating the Pioneer Club by being able to effectively manage my time and resources.”

Del Rossi is married with two young children and now calls Trumbull home.

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