NEW YORK - Last week marked the end of a nearly 40-year career in collegiate athletics for Columbia's Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations Joe Quinlan, who announced his retirement. Quinlan has worked with the Lions since 2015, overseeing a number of key areas within the athletics program and expanding outreach to the greater campus community.
 
At Columbia, Quinlan served as both the Senior Associate Athletics Director in charge of Internal Department Operations as well as the sports program administrator for three Columbia teams: football, men's basketball and women's basketball.
 
"When I arrived here, I quickly realized that Columbia is the type of institution where you could learn something new every day and that's exactly what happened," Quinlan said. "I'm so grateful to have worked with a group of truly remarkable student-athletes, coaches and staff."
 
"We've made great strides in a number of areas within the athletics program of which I'm proud to have been a part," he continued. "Specifically with the improvements of our facilities, which has enhanced our student-athlete and fan experience."
 
A nationally well-respected athletics administrator, Quinlan was previously the Director of Athletics at two NCAA Division I institutions in the State of New Jersey, Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, and Seton Hall University, in South Orange. He also worked as a senior athletics administrator for Rutgers University and gained experience with the NCAA and New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, managing the first-ever NCAA Men's Final Four at the Meadowlands arena in 1996.
 
"Joe brought his many years of experience and passion for collegiate athletics to our athletics department and Lions community," Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Peter Pilling said. "We all wish him the very best in his retirement."
 
Quinlan earned his bachelor's degree at Slippery Rock State College and his master's degree from The Ohio State University.
 
Quinlan and his wife Noreen '75NRS '83TC, a graduate of the University's School of Nursing and earned her MA in nursing administration from Teachers College, have one daughter, Tess (Marquette '14), who works at the National Basketball Association.