MANCHESTER, N.H. – Saint Anselm College Interim Director of Athletics Phil Rowe announced Thursday the appointment of Jonathan Harper as the College's Deputy Director of Athletics for External Relations.

Harper joins the Hilltop after serving for three years as director of athletics at nearby Rivier University in Nashua, N.H. He brings more than 20 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics administration to his new role.

As deputy director, Harper will oversee external operations for the Hawks' 23 varsity programs. His responsibilities will include promoting the department's brand, expanding corporate sponsorship opportunities, and contributing to department-wide initiatives as part of the senior athletics administrative team.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan to Saint Anselm College and our athletic leadership team," Rowe said. "His depth of experience, particularly in external relations, strategic communications, and collegiate athletics administration, will be a tremendous asset as we continue to elevate the profile of our programs.

"Jonathan's collaborative spirit, service-based leadership, and passion for the student-athlete experience align perfectly with the values of our department and the mission of the College," Rowe added.

At Rivier, a Division III member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), Harper led a series of strategic initiatives that advanced the department's athletic, academic, and operational excellence.

"I am excited for this opportunity to join the Saint Anselm Department of Athletics and help tell the stories of student-athletes and coaches, both on and off the field of competition," Harper said.

"I am also looking forward to positively contributing to a first-class student-athlete experience and supporting the efforts of the coaching staff as well as the administration," he added. "I would like to thank Phil Rowe for affording me this opportunity to join an extremely talented staff."

Under his leadership, all head coaching positions were elevated to full-time roles, and the department achieved its most successful competitive year in 2024-25. Rivier's overall winning percentage rose from .399 in 2021-22 to .528 in 2024-25, with 10 teams earning postseason berths, up from seven in his first two seasons.

Rivier also recorded its highest academic achievement in program history during Harper's tenure. In 2024-25, 120 student-athletes earned GNAC Academic All-Conference recognition, surpassing totals of 102 and 87 in the two prior years. Additionally, 21 student-athletes from the men's and women's ice hockey programs were named AHCA/Krampade All-American Scholars in 2023-24.

Harper oversaw major facility improvements, including a full renovation of the Muldoon Center's competition gym with new basketball and volleyball courts, upgraded varsity locker suites, and the installation of Hudl cameras across all athletic venues. He also collaborated with the athletic communications team, expanded in 2023, to enhance Rivier.tv's livestreaming capabilities with multi-angle coverage and live commentary.

Among his external engagement efforts, Harper assisted with the University's "Nashua is a College Town" campaign and expanded the Raiders Athletics Challenge, which generated significant support during Rivier's Day of Giving in 2024 and 2025. He also secured a $60,000 corporate sponsorship from Revo Casino and introduced apparel partnerships with BSN Sports and Nike. Additional fundraising success came through annual youth sports camps and team-based campaigns through the SnapRaise platform.

Committed to holistic student-athlete development, Harper also expanded the support infrastructure by adding a strength and conditioning unit through TOP Fitness, implementing the Zama Health platform for mental wellness, and adopting Spry software to enhance compliance and operations.

A respected voice in the conference, Harper served as chair of the GNAC Athletic Directors Council in 2022–23 and was a member of Rivier's President's Cabinet beginning in 2023.

Before arriving at Rivier, Harper held Director of Athletics roles at Marymount California University and Newbury College. His previous positions also include Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, Commissioner of the Little East Conference, and Associate Commissioner of the Northeast 10 Conference.

A native of Springfield, Mo., Harper earned his undergraduate degree from Bridgewater State University and a master's degree in education from Nova Southeastern University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in sports leadership from Nova Southeastern.

He resides in Nashua with his wife, Heather. They have three children: Clayton, a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology; Skyler, a graduate of Rivier University; and Brooklyn, who is currently enrolled in college.