Kathleen Meehan Announces Retirement from St. John’s
2/14/2023 12:00:00 PM | General, Women's Basketball
Red Storm’s Senior Deputy Athletics Director will retire at the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year
QUEENS, N.Y. – After nearly five decades of service at St. John's as a pioneer for women's sports and leader within the Department of Athletics, Senior Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) and St. John's Hall of Famer Kathleen Meehan has announced she will retire upon the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic school year.
A double alumna of St. John's, Meehan has been a part of the university community for nearly her entire life, following in the footsteps of her parents who both graduated from St. John's. One of the longest-tenured members in the history of St. John's Athletics, Meehan began her professional career as the Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Athletics in 1975 and has since played an influential role in the growth of University's athletic program for the past 48 years.
"When you complete one chapter of your life, you are really beginning the next," said Meehan. "This has been a dream job that I have been fortunate to hold for my entire career. To me, it never seemed like work.
"I was blessed to work alongside wonderful colleagues and student-athletes. I was also fortunate to be mentored by some of the best people in college athletics. I hope my time here was as impactful for others as it was for me. It's time to move on to the next chapter, which I hope will be as wonderful as these last five decades have been at St. John's"
Meehan helped lead the development of Division I women's sports at St. John's and was influential in the creation and evolution of the BIG EAST Conference. She was also the driving force behind the development of the Community Service and LifeSkills program at the University for all student-athletes, now the Office of Student Development for Athletes. In addition, Meehan has served as a mentor to thousands of student-athletes, coaches and administrators throughout her decorated career.
"From her time as a student-athlete in the 1970s through the present, Kathy Meehan has been an integral part of not only St. John's Athletics but the larger University and Vincentian community," said Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John's University. "For five decades, Kathy has contributed to the life-changing mission of St. John's and done so as a true Vincentian leader. Kathy embodies all that is good about the intersection of higher education, athletics, and service and she did that so well for so long right here at St. John's."
Meehan arrived on campus as a freshman in 1971 and spent the next four years working towards her bachelor's degree in education. As an undergraduate, she was a member of the first women's basketball team at the University in 1974-75 and won the first Outstanding Female Student-Athlete Award that same year.
Soon after graduation, Meehan was hired by the late Jack Kaiser as an Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Athletics, Women's Intramural Director and Assistant Basketball Coach, holding those positions until she received her master's degree in counseling education in 1979 and was named Women's Athletic Director a year later.
The Long Island native assumed many roles over the next 40-plus years, being promoted to Associate Athletic Director in 1985, appointed Senior Associate Athletic Director in 1993 and elevated to Associate Vice President for Athletics in 2001 before being named Senior Deputy Athletics Director in 2018. Meehan has also undertaken several stints as the department's interim athletic director when the position was left vacant.
"Kathy Meehan is not only a legendary pillar of St. John's, but for all of the BIG EAST Conference and the entire enterprise of college athletics," said St. John's Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. "Her impact on literally thousands of young people can't be replaced or even fully understood, as it is truly awe-inspiring.
"It has been my good fortune to have Kathy as a teammate over the last four years. She is an incredibly talented administrator who has been a valuable member of our department. Again, her impact on the student-athlete experience at St. John's can't be stated enough."
Meehan's wisdom and expertise on women's sports spread far across the nation and well outside her day-to-day functions at St. John's. She has served on numerous NCAA and BIG EAST committees, most notably the Division I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee, which works to enhance the development and public perception of the sport and make recommendations related to regular-season and postseason women's basketball. She also spent time on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball (2010-15) and Women's Volleyball (2005-09) Committees among other highly touted organizations dedicated to elevating women's sports.
"Any list of St. John's athletics legends would be incomplete without the name Kathy Meehan, whose nearly 50-year run with the Johnnies has been defined by loyalty, unselfishness, a values-based approach and trailblazing of the highest order," said Val Ackerman, BIG EAST Conference Commissioner. "Few have done more than Kathy to support the ideals of college sports, and the BIG EAST Conference owes her an enormous debt of gratitude for her steadfast leadership, unending service on committees and working groups, and unfailingly sound judgment as we've endeavored to do right by our athletes and coaches and keep our storied league in step with the times."
A member of the St. John's Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 1991, Meehan was also awarded several distinctions for her outstanding contributions both on and off the playing grounds, including the Vincentian Mission Award given to an employee that embodies "the mission of the University through purposeful and sustained service to others," while "manifesting her social consciousness with the University, as well as to the community and beyond."
"Kathy Meehan was not only an outstanding student-athlete, coach, and currently a top-notch administrator, she is an even better person," said St. John's legendary coach and 1992 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Lou Carnesecca. "She has been a wonderful representative of the University and its mission to the student-athletes, the St. John's Family and the wider community. We are all very blessed and fortunate to know her and to work with her over these many years."
Throughout her tenure at St. John's, Meehan has been a driving force for numerous community service initiatives and an active member within the University community. In her current role as Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, Meehan oversees internal relations, Title IX compliance, human resources, strategic planning and enforcement of the student-athlete code of conduct. She also has served as the team administrator for the women's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, softball and volleyball teams at St. John's.
"Kathy Meehan is a living legend, who has made a positive impact on everyone she has encountered throughout her career," said St. John's Head Women's Basketball Coach Joe Tartamella. "I have had the privilege to spend my entire career under Kathy's leadership and mentorship. She truly embodies all of the values and ideals that St. John's University was founded upon."
Full Statements on Kathy Meehan's Retirement
Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., St. John's University President
From her time as a student-athlete in the 1970s through the present, Kathy Meehan has been an integral part of not only St. John's Athletics but the larger University and Vincentian community. For five decades Kathy has contributed to the life-changing mission of St. John's and done so as a true Vincentian leader. Kathy embodies all that is good about the intersection of higher education, athletics, and service and she did that so well for so long right here at St. John's.
During her tenure, Kathy has represented St. John's with excellence and distinction on numerous NCAA and BIG EAST committees, and her service to St. John's tracks with the exponential growth and historic story that is the BIG EAST Conference.
Of the many titles that Kathy has earned over her illustrious career, the ones that she is most proud of are wife, mother, and grandmother. I thank Kathy for her service to St. John's and wish her and her beautiful family well as she prepares for retirement.
Mike Cragg, St. John's Director of Athletics
Kathy Meehan is not only a legendary pillar of St. John's, but for all of the BIG EAST Conference and the entire enterprise of college athletics. Her impact on literally thousands of young people can't be replaced or even fully understood as it is truly awe-inspiring.
It has been my good fortune to have Kathy as a teammate over the last four years. She is an incredibly talented administrator who has been a valuable member of our department. Again, her impact on the student-athlete experience at St. John's can't be stated enough. We look forward to the next few months celebrating Kathy, her husband Lou, and their entire family.
Personally, I am very happy for Kathy to enjoy this new chapter in her life as a wife, mother and grandmother. However, I also told her we are not saying "goodbye" as we all need her in our lives serving St. John's as well.
We salute and deeply thank our LEGEND, Kathy Meehan!
Val Ackerman, BIG EAST Conference Commissioner
Any list of St. John's athletics legends would be incomplete without the name Kathy Meehan, whose nearly 50-year run with the Johnnies has been defined by loyalty, unselfishness, a values-based approach and trailblazing of the highest order. Few have done more than Kathy to support the ideals of college sports, and the BIG EAST Conference owes her an enormous debt of gratitude for her steadfast leadership, unending service on committees and working groups, and unfailingly sound judgment as we've endeavored to do right by our athletes and coaches and keep our storied league in step with the times.
On a personal level, I'll be forever grateful to Kathy for helping me navigate the complexities of the college sports world starting nearly a decade ago and for being such a powerful role model for women who work in the sports industry. To say she'll be greatly missed would be an understatement, and we wish her and Lou the best of health, exciting new adventures with their family and some well-deserved restful moments when they begin their next chapter this summer.
Lou Carnesecca, Former St. John's Head Coach and 1992 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee
Kathy Meehan was not only an outstanding student-athlete, coach, and currently a top-notch administrator, she is an even better person. She has been a wonderful representative of the University and its mission to the student-athletes, the St. John's Family and the wider community. We are all very blessed and fortunate to know her and to work with her over these many years.
Joe Tartamella, St. John's Head Women's Basketball Coach
Kathy Meehan is a living legend, who has made a positive impact on everyone she has encountered throughout her career. I have had the privilege to spend my entire career under Kathy's leadership and mentorship. She truly embodies all of the values and ideals that St. John's University was founded upon. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be around her on a daily basis and watch all of the improvements and advancements she has made for our athletic department over the years. More importantly, she has become a great friend and a part of my family. I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement.
A double alumna of St. John's, Meehan has been a part of the university community for nearly her entire life, following in the footsteps of her parents who both graduated from St. John's. One of the longest-tenured members in the history of St. John's Athletics, Meehan began her professional career as the Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Athletics in 1975 and has since played an influential role in the growth of University's athletic program for the past 48 years.
"When you complete one chapter of your life, you are really beginning the next," said Meehan. "This has been a dream job that I have been fortunate to hold for my entire career. To me, it never seemed like work.
"I was blessed to work alongside wonderful colleagues and student-athletes. I was also fortunate to be mentored by some of the best people in college athletics. I hope my time here was as impactful for others as it was for me. It's time to move on to the next chapter, which I hope will be as wonderful as these last five decades have been at St. John's"
Meehan helped lead the development of Division I women's sports at St. John's and was influential in the creation and evolution of the BIG EAST Conference. She was also the driving force behind the development of the Community Service and LifeSkills program at the University for all student-athletes, now the Office of Student Development for Athletes. In addition, Meehan has served as a mentor to thousands of student-athletes, coaches and administrators throughout her decorated career.
"From her time as a student-athlete in the 1970s through the present, Kathy Meehan has been an integral part of not only St. John's Athletics but the larger University and Vincentian community," said Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John's University. "For five decades, Kathy has contributed to the life-changing mission of St. John's and done so as a true Vincentian leader. Kathy embodies all that is good about the intersection of higher education, athletics, and service and she did that so well for so long right here at St. John's."
Meehan arrived on campus as a freshman in 1971 and spent the next four years working towards her bachelor's degree in education. As an undergraduate, she was a member of the first women's basketball team at the University in 1974-75 and won the first Outstanding Female Student-Athlete Award that same year.
Soon after graduation, Meehan was hired by the late Jack Kaiser as an Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Athletics, Women's Intramural Director and Assistant Basketball Coach, holding those positions until she received her master's degree in counseling education in 1979 and was named Women's Athletic Director a year later.
The Long Island native assumed many roles over the next 40-plus years, being promoted to Associate Athletic Director in 1985, appointed Senior Associate Athletic Director in 1993 and elevated to Associate Vice President for Athletics in 2001 before being named Senior Deputy Athletics Director in 2018. Meehan has also undertaken several stints as the department's interim athletic director when the position was left vacant.
"Kathy Meehan is not only a legendary pillar of St. John's, but for all of the BIG EAST Conference and the entire enterprise of college athletics," said St. John's Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. "Her impact on literally thousands of young people can't be replaced or even fully understood, as it is truly awe-inspiring.
"It has been my good fortune to have Kathy as a teammate over the last four years. She is an incredibly talented administrator who has been a valuable member of our department. Again, her impact on the student-athlete experience at St. John's can't be stated enough."
Meehan's wisdom and expertise on women's sports spread far across the nation and well outside her day-to-day functions at St. John's. She has served on numerous NCAA and BIG EAST committees, most notably the Division I Women's Basketball Oversight Committee, which works to enhance the development and public perception of the sport and make recommendations related to regular-season and postseason women's basketball. She also spent time on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball (2010-15) and Women's Volleyball (2005-09) Committees among other highly touted organizations dedicated to elevating women's sports.
"Any list of St. John's athletics legends would be incomplete without the name Kathy Meehan, whose nearly 50-year run with the Johnnies has been defined by loyalty, unselfishness, a values-based approach and trailblazing of the highest order," said Val Ackerman, BIG EAST Conference Commissioner. "Few have done more than Kathy to support the ideals of college sports, and the BIG EAST Conference owes her an enormous debt of gratitude for her steadfast leadership, unending service on committees and working groups, and unfailingly sound judgment as we've endeavored to do right by our athletes and coaches and keep our storied league in step with the times."
A member of the St. John's Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 1991, Meehan was also awarded several distinctions for her outstanding contributions both on and off the playing grounds, including the Vincentian Mission Award given to an employee that embodies "the mission of the University through purposeful and sustained service to others," while "manifesting her social consciousness with the University, as well as to the community and beyond."
"Kathy Meehan was not only an outstanding student-athlete, coach, and currently a top-notch administrator, she is an even better person," said St. John's legendary coach and 1992 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Lou Carnesecca. "She has been a wonderful representative of the University and its mission to the student-athletes, the St. John's Family and the wider community. We are all very blessed and fortunate to know her and to work with her over these many years."
Throughout her tenure at St. John's, Meehan has been a driving force for numerous community service initiatives and an active member within the University community. In her current role as Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, Meehan oversees internal relations, Title IX compliance, human resources, strategic planning and enforcement of the student-athlete code of conduct. She also has served as the team administrator for the women's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, softball and volleyball teams at St. John's.
"Kathy Meehan is a living legend, who has made a positive impact on everyone she has encountered throughout her career," said St. John's Head Women's Basketball Coach Joe Tartamella. "I have had the privilege to spend my entire career under Kathy's leadership and mentorship. She truly embodies all of the values and ideals that St. John's University was founded upon."
Full Statements on Kathy Meehan's Retirement
Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., St. John's University President
From her time as a student-athlete in the 1970s through the present, Kathy Meehan has been an integral part of not only St. John's Athletics but the larger University and Vincentian community. For five decades Kathy has contributed to the life-changing mission of St. John's and done so as a true Vincentian leader. Kathy embodies all that is good about the intersection of higher education, athletics, and service and she did that so well for so long right here at St. John's.
During her tenure, Kathy has represented St. John's with excellence and distinction on numerous NCAA and BIG EAST committees, and her service to St. John's tracks with the exponential growth and historic story that is the BIG EAST Conference.
Of the many titles that Kathy has earned over her illustrious career, the ones that she is most proud of are wife, mother, and grandmother. I thank Kathy for her service to St. John's and wish her and her beautiful family well as she prepares for retirement.
Mike Cragg, St. John's Director of Athletics
Kathy Meehan is not only a legendary pillar of St. John's, but for all of the BIG EAST Conference and the entire enterprise of college athletics. Her impact on literally thousands of young people can't be replaced or even fully understood as it is truly awe-inspiring.
It has been my good fortune to have Kathy as a teammate over the last four years. She is an incredibly talented administrator who has been a valuable member of our department. Again, her impact on the student-athlete experience at St. John's can't be stated enough. We look forward to the next few months celebrating Kathy, her husband Lou, and their entire family.
Personally, I am very happy for Kathy to enjoy this new chapter in her life as a wife, mother and grandmother. However, I also told her we are not saying "goodbye" as we all need her in our lives serving St. John's as well.
We salute and deeply thank our LEGEND, Kathy Meehan!
Val Ackerman, BIG EAST Conference Commissioner
Any list of St. John's athletics legends would be incomplete without the name Kathy Meehan, whose nearly 50-year run with the Johnnies has been defined by loyalty, unselfishness, a values-based approach and trailblazing of the highest order. Few have done more than Kathy to support the ideals of college sports, and the BIG EAST Conference owes her an enormous debt of gratitude for her steadfast leadership, unending service on committees and working groups, and unfailingly sound judgment as we've endeavored to do right by our athletes and coaches and keep our storied league in step with the times.
On a personal level, I'll be forever grateful to Kathy for helping me navigate the complexities of the college sports world starting nearly a decade ago and for being such a powerful role model for women who work in the sports industry. To say she'll be greatly missed would be an understatement, and we wish her and Lou the best of health, exciting new adventures with their family and some well-deserved restful moments when they begin their next chapter this summer.
Lou Carnesecca, Former St. John's Head Coach and 1992 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee
Kathy Meehan was not only an outstanding student-athlete, coach, and currently a top-notch administrator, she is an even better person. She has been a wonderful representative of the University and its mission to the student-athletes, the St. John's Family and the wider community. We are all very blessed and fortunate to know her and to work with her over these many years.
Joe Tartamella, St. John's Head Women's Basketball Coach
Kathy Meehan is a living legend, who has made a positive impact on everyone she has encountered throughout her career. I have had the privilege to spend my entire career under Kathy's leadership and mentorship. She truly embodies all of the values and ideals that St. John's University was founded upon. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be around her on a daily basis and watch all of the improvements and advancements she has made for our athletic department over the years. More importantly, she has become a great friend and a part of my family. I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement.