Niagara University Athletics

In September 2026, Niagara University appointed Simon Gray as Vice President for Athletics. The promotion marked a significant milestone in a career defined by visionary leadership, service, and dedication to the holistic development of student-athletes. Having served as Niagara’s Director of Athletics starting in May 2014 and later elevated to Associate Vice President in July 2022, Gray has spent more than a decade guiding the Purple Eagles into one of the most comprehensively successful eras in the university's history. 

Under Gray’s guidance, Niagara’s Division I Department of Athletics has consistently reached unprecedented heights in the classroom, in competition, and in fundraising. Student-athletes achieved a department-record 97 percent Graduation Success Rate while maintaining a collective GPA of 3.4 or higher, consistently leading the university in retention and federal graduation rates. In competition, the 2023–24 year stood as the most successful campaign in program history, featuring four conference championships—including historic firsts for baseball and women’s lacrosse—and an all-time best third-place finish in the MAAC Commissioner’s Cup. That momentum formed part of a prolific four-year stretch where Niagara captured six conference titles, led by three championships from the women’s swimming program. 

Gray’s impact on campus is equally visible in modernizing facilities and enhancing student-athlete support services. He managed several capital improvements, overseeing projects such as a $2.1 million renovation of Bobo Field, $750,000 in privately funded upgrades to basketball areas, video displays in Dwyer Arena and the Gallagher Center, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facilities. To support the evolving modern landscape of college sports, Gray spearheaded initiatives involving Revenue Sharing, Cost of Attendance, and Alston payments, all while introducing women’s bowling as Niagara's 19th varsity sport. His development strategy drove annual athletics fundraising past the $1 million threshold for the first time in FY24—setting another record in FY26—a stark contrast to the $187,000 baseline before his arrival. 
A highly respected administrative figure on both the campus and national stages, Gray serves on the President’s Cabinet and contributes to several strategic working groups. Nationally, he served four years on the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee, including a stint as Chair in 2022–23, held the role of President of the NACDA I-AAA Athletics Directors Association in 2021–22, and currently serves as Chair of the Metro Conference Men’s Basketball Committee. 

Gray’s career in athletic administration spans nearly three decades, including nine years at Eastern Kentucky University—where he served two stints as Acting Athletic Director and Senior Associate AD—and early media relations positions at the University of Richmond, East Tennessee State University, and Boston College. A Pittsburgh native, Gray earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Richmond and a master's in sport administration from Eastern Kentucky University. 

Outside of his collegiate endeavors, Gray resides in Youngstown, New York, with his wife, Anne-Christine, a native of Grasse, France, and a former collegiate golfer at East Tennessee State University. The couple shares three daughters: Emilie, Elisabeth, and Caroline. Sports remain a core family value; his eldest daughter, Emilie, is currently a junior student-athlete playing defender on the women's soccer team at John Carroll University.