ST. DAVIDS, Pa.— In a letter to the campus community, Eastern University Provost Dr. Kenton Sparks announced that Brian Bingaman will transition into a new leadership role in the Athletic Department and serve the University as Interim Athletic Director. Bingaman has worked as Eastern's Associate Athletic Director for Performance, Health, and Wellness and Game Day Management since 2020.

"Brian brings thoughtfulness, maturity, spiritual grounding, and enthusiasm into the role," Sparks wrote. "We look forward to the contributions he will make to Eastern Athletics in this next season."

"I'm honored to lead Eastern University Athletics as we continue building a high-level program rooted in our mission of Faith, Reason, and Justice." Bingaman said. "It is a privilege to serve at a Christ-centered institution where student-athletes grow in faith and excellence. I am grateful to President Matthews and Provost Sparks for their support during this transition, and to Eric McNelley for his mentorship over the past five years."

In his Associate AD role, Bingaman led the department through the return from COVID and into a new era of growth. In leading Eastern's strength staff, he is actively involved in student-athlete wellness initiatives and in day-to-day operations in all aspects of Eastern's growing Athletic Department. His arrival at Eastern was a crucial first step in the process of adding football. In the past two years, Eastern has added Flag Football and Men's and Women's Wrestling and seen several major facilities projects.

Bingaman arrived at Eastern with over 15 years of leadership in Strength and Conditioning at the Division I level. In that role, he led facilities transformations at both LaSalle and Saint Joseph's with the goal of better serving those student-athletes.

At Eastern, Bingaman oversaw the construction of a new weight room at Valley Forge and the upgrades to the fitness center on campus while leading a team of strength and conditioning coaches to serve each of Eastern's teams. He coordinates with coaches, academic support, and sports medicine to build a whole-person wellness model.

Bingaman has worked closely with student-athletes in strength and conditioning, game management, and in leading Eastern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). He interacts regularly with coaches as sport supervisor and strength coach and with the entire staff in developing new systems for game management and scheduling. He has had leadership roles on hiring committees and has been actively involved in all phases of the various development and construction projects.

Bingaman did his undergraduate work in exercise science at Bloomsburg University, where he was an All-American lineman for the football team. He has his M.ED from Penn State.

Bingaman replaces Eric McNelley, who is moving with his family to Atlanta after leading Eastern Athletics since 2018.

He works in his community with Haverford Youth Football and Wrestling.