Richard M. Regan, Jr., is now in his 15th year as the director of athletics at Holy Cross in 2012-2013. Regan, whose tenure began on July 1, 1998, became just the fourth Holy Cross athletic director in the last 50 years. “He is smart, full of energy, skilled in financial management and fully committed to Holy Cross,” said then Holy Cross president Fr. Gerard Reedy, S.J., at the time of Regan’s hiring.

Regan’s first 14 years have been productive ones for the Crusaders. During this period of time, 19 Holy Cross teams have advanced to NCAA tournament play — including at least one team in 10 of the last 14 seasons. The women’s basketball team has been to the postseason in eight of the last 14 years (including six trips to the NCAA Tournament), while the football (2009), field hockey (1998 and 2000) and women’s soccer (2000) programs have also made NCAA appearances. Regan’s tenure has also seen the first-ever NCAA appearances for the men’s ice hockey (2004 and 2006), men’s soccer (2002) and women’s lacrosse (2006 and 2007) teams. In addition, the men’s basketball program has seen a great deal of success under Regan’s watch, having advanced to postseason play in five of the last 12 years, and becoming the first Patriot League team ever to advance to the NCAA tournament in three consecutive seasons (2001, 2002 and 2003).

Success is not measured only by wins and losses, but by other gains as well. In an effort to further increase the number of Crusader teams coached by full-time staff members, Regan announced the appointment of full-time coaching positions in track, volleyball, women’s lacrosse and softball. Gender equity has been a major focus of Regan’s administration and he introduced the college’s first two new varsity sports in more than 15 years — women’s ice hockey and women’s golf.

Improvements to the athletics facilities have also been part of Regan’s focus. The new Linda Johnson Smith Stadium is home to not only the men’s and women’s soccer teams, but its unique two-sided stands and press facilities provide an additional benefit to home events for field hockey and outdoor track and field. In 2009, a new synthetic turf facility was opened for use by the football, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse teams.

The baseball team opened a new on-campus stadium beginning in the fall of 2005. And there have been improvements to other facilities as well, such as the softball field, new football and men’s ice hockey locker rooms, and a video room for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

In addition to his duties on campus, Regan has become involved in college athletic policy on a national scale. He is currently a member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee, serving as the committee's chairman during the 2012-2013 school year. Regan previously served a term as a Division I-AA representative on the NCAA Division I Management Council from 1999-2004. The Management Council, comprised of 49 athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives from around the nation, reports directly to the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors. The council is responsible for adopting operating bylaws and rules to govern Division I, interpreting Division I bylaws, reviewing recommendations from the Division I conferences and universities, and developing and implementing the Division I budget.

Prior to returning to Worcester in July of 1998, Regan worked for NFL International and NFL Europe (formerly the World League of American Football). He joined the New York office of the World League in 1991 and was based in London beginning in 1992. Over the next several years he lived in London and Edinburgh, and served as managing director of the Scottish Claymores, vice president of European operations and chief operating officer.

When the World League went through a reorganization following the 1992 season, National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue appointed Regan as managing director of NFL International, Ltd., to oversee and develop the NFL’s business interests throughout Europe. In that role, he was instrumental in establishing NFL International in Europe and planning and executing the NFL’s American Bowl series of international games in London, Dublin, Barcelona and Berlin.

Regan held the post of managing director of Monarch International, Inc., a licensing and financial consulting firm, for three years before joining the World League.

After graduating from Holy Cross in 1976, Regan spent nine years working for Arthur Andersen & Company in its Boston, Mass., offices, rising to the level of senior manager. He then moved to the NFL with the New England Patriots, where he served in the role of Vice President of Finance from 1985-1988.

His ties to Mount St. James run deep, as he is the third generation of his family to attend Holy Cross. He is the son of Richard M. Regan (Class of 1950), and the grandson of Harold J. Regan (Class of 1917). Regan’s sisters, Mary (Class of 1977) and Ann (Class of 1980), also graduated from Holy Cross. His daughter, Deirdre, graduated from Holy Cross in 2006.

Born in Providence, R.I., Regan and his wife, Judi, have three daughters — Jennifer, Deirdre and Colleen.