POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Vassar College Director of Athletics & Physical Education Michelle Walsh has announced that Matt Brennie has been selected as the Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and Events. Brennie joins Vassar after serving as the Director of Athletics and Assistant Dean for Student Services at SUNY Ulster for the last eight years.

"I'm excited to announce that Matt will be joining the Vassar family," stated Walsh.  "Matt has been a transformational leader at SUNY Ulster, spearheading record growth in their programs as well as making substantive improvements to the student-athlete experience.  We're looking forward to him bringing that same type of leadership and constant drive for improvement to our facilities and event operations here at Vassar.,"
  
Brennie joins the Vassar College athletics department after spending 12 years at SUNY Ulster with the last eight coming as the Director of Athletics and Assistant Dean for Student Services. In his role, Brennie added seven sports to Ulster's athletic department and doubled the amount of enrolled student-athletes. He also oversaw the transition of all programs from NJCAA Division III to Division II. Brennie has been solely responsible for the oversight and management of all aspects of the department including compliance, facility and game operations as well as enrollment and retention.

""I want to thank Director of Athletics and Physical Education Michelle Walsh and all the members of the Vassar Athletic Department for granting me the opportunity to join their team," said Brennie. "I am looking forward to getting to know the students, faculty and staff, and look to become a valued member of the College. With all the great things that Vassar Athletics has to offer, I trust that I can apply the skills and knowledge I have attained through my professional experience to this role which will help continue Vassar Athletics' growth in the near future"
 
Brennie also served as the Director for Support Services and a Student Support Services Counselor for four years where he was responsible for directing federally funded grants, providing student success workshops and assisting students with personal, academic and career advisement.
 
Prior to his work at SUNY Ulster, Brennie has coached at multiple different levels in both baseball and softball. He was an assistant baseball coach for one season at Marist College before returning to the coaching realm for the 2005 season at Delaware State University. Brennie also coached softball at SUNY Ulster for two seasons before becoming an assistant coach for two seasons at SUNY New Paltz.
 
Brennie graduated from Wake Forest University in 2002 with a B.A. in Communications where he was four-year member of the football and baseball teams. He was part of the 1999 and 2001 ACC Baseball Championship teams along with a player on the 1999 Aloha Bowl Football Championship team.
 
Upon graduation from Wake Forest in 2022 with a B.A. in Communications, Brennie earned his Master of Science in Childhood Education and Initial Childhood from Mount Saint Mary College in 2009. He also received his graduate certification in Athletic Administration from American Public University in 2013.