Phil Rowe returned to the Hilltop as the College’s Interim Associate Director of Athletics in January 2021. In January of 2025 Rowe was named Interim Director of Athletics while the college conducts a search for a new AD following the departure of Daron Montgomery.
With over 35 years as a coach and administrator, Rowe is charged with providing oversight for the day-to-day operations for athletics and contribute supervision for select sport programs. As a member of the Department's Senior Leadership Team, Rowe lends direct support in key areas including game/event management, facilities, scheduling and personnel.
Rowe first came to Saint Anselm as the head women’s soccer coach and assistant men’s basketball coach in 1984 and, most recently, served as the Associate Director of Athletics during the 2014-15 season. He has maintained strong ties to New Hampshire throughout his career, working at six colleges and universities in the Granite State.
Most recently, Rowe worked in athletics administration at William Peace University in Raleigh, N.C. Joining the department as the Director of Athletics in June 2016, he was elevated to the Executive Director of Athletics in August 2017 and served on the University’s senior leadership team and the President’s University Council.
At William Peace, Rowe oversaw a seven-figure athletics operating budget, handled academics and compliance, conducted fundraising and external relations and collaborated with staff members on a master athletics facility plan for the Pacers’ 18 varsity sports offerings.
His most recent coaching stint came at Phillips Exeter Academy, assisting the boys’ basketball team since September 2019 and helping the squad to a 16-6 overall record and a No. 3 ranking in New England. Assisting one of the top New England Preparatory School Athletic Council programs, Rowe’s coaching career has also extended to stops at NCAA Divisions I, II and III.
Serving as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. from 2009-14, Rowe rebuilt the men’s basketball program into a perennial NCAA Division III Tournament contender. After his stint at Saint Anselm in 2014-15, Rowe went on to serve Endicott’s President as a Special Advisor, providing input on a variety of areas, including but not limited to student affairs, campus safety, athletics, and institutional advancement.
Prior to that, Rowe was the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Athletics at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H. from 2006-09. Rowe directed all aspects of the NCAA intercollegiate athletic, club sports, intramural and recreation program, while also initiating and then completing the task of creating a new NCAA conference – the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC).
Rowe spent the previous 10 years focused on his basketball coaching career as he led a nationally-ranked Keene State College program (1996-99) before making the jump to Division I. Rowe was the bench boss at the University of New Hampshire (1999-05) for six seasons and then served as an assistant on a George Washington University (2005-06) squad that went 27-3, made the NCAA Tournament and climbed as high as No. 6 in the USA Today national rankings.
Rowe made his first stop at Daniel Webster (1993-96) as the Director of Athletics, while also taking over the reins of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) as commissioner from 1995-96. During the 1992-93 campaign, Rowe oversaw a pair of programs as the Director of Athletics at both Wheelock College (Boston, Mass.) and Newbury College (Brookline, Mass.).
Rowe had previously spent two years as an assistant on the men’s basketball staff at Boston University (1990-92), in addition to assisting the women’s lacrosse head coach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) during the spring of 1992.
Rowe returned to his alma mater for five years as head coach of both the men’s basketball and nationally-ranked women’s soccer programs at Plymouth State College (1985-90). Rowe also held the title of assistant athletic director and oversaw intramurals and recreation.
Prior to his first stint at Saint Anselm, Rowe served as head coach of both the men’s basketball and baseball squads at New England College (1978-84) in Henniker, N.H. while directing intramural, club and recreational sports as an assistant athletic director.
Rowe graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Plymouth State and earned his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration, Human Movement from Boston University.
Rowe and his wife, Suzan, currently reside in Exeter, N.H.
