After 30 years as William Paterson University athletic director, Art Eason has announced his retirement. 

Eason supervised a department that includes 17 teams, 38 coaches and more than 250 student athletes.  During his tenure, William Paterson won baseball national championships in 1992 and 1996 and two individual track and field national titles. The Pioneers' athletic programs won 27 New Jersey Athletic Conference team championships and each of the athletic department's programs competed in NCAA Division III tournaments during his stint as athletic director.

 “From the day I met Art Eason almost 31 years ago, I have been impressed by his dedication to this University and its student athletes,” said Arnold Speert, president of William Paterson University.  “He has certainly left his mark on the William Paterson athletic program.” 

Eason is particularly proud to have overseen the development of the University’s athletic facilities, particularly improved fields for the field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and softball teams.

"I'm proud to have been athletic director at William Paterson University during a period of growth for the university and the athletic department," said Eason. "Seeing the success of our teams and our student-athletes makes me feel good. It's been a good run."

Throughout his career, Eason played an active role in state and national college athletic organizations. He served as the chairperson of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Nominating and Division III Self-Study committees. He has also been the president of the Collegiate Athletic Administrators of New Jersey (CAANJ) and the games committee of the Kickoff Classic; the president, vice president and treasurer of the Metropolitan Athletic Directors Association; the secretary of the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA); and the football chairperson of the New Jersey Athletic Conference.  Eason earned the Garden State Award for Outstanding Service by the CAANJ in 1994.

He was hired by William Paterson as assistant director of financial aid in 1970 before taking the athletic director post in August 1972.   In addition, the Paterson native coached the university's first varsity football team in 1972.  He graduated from Montclair State with a B.S. in history in 1962 and received his master's in education from William Paterson in 1971.

Associate Athletic Director Sabrina Grant has been named interim athletic director.