Corey Goff Named New Director of Athletics
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Brian Hickey; 267-582-5570
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THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY NAMES
NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Corey Goff will take over as Director of Athletics from Tom Shirley, who stays on as head coach of the women's basketball team.
PHILADELPHIA – Thomas Jefferson University today announced that Corey Goff will become its new Director of Athletics. A native of Montrose, Pa., Goff was most recently the athletic director at Knox College in Illinois and will take over the role at Jefferson on August 5.
"I am honored and excited to join the team at Thomas Jefferson University. Jefferson's commitment to academic excellence and its strong athletics tradition are deeply inspiring, and I am confident that together we can build upon the successes of the past and propel our student-athletes to even greater heights," says Goff. "I am eager to partner with the talented coaches, staff, and student-athletes and look forward to becoming an active member of the Jefferson community. Go Rams!"
Goff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and secondary education from Susquehanna University. There, Goff was a member of the varsity football and baseball teams, playing in NCAA playoffs in both sports, and serving twice as baseball team captain. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in educational psychology from the SUNY University at Albany.
Prior to his time at Knox College, Goff spent five years as Director of Athletics and Physical Education at Ransom Everglades School in Florida, where he also was in charge of the recruitment and development of more than 100 coaches and physical education teachers.
Goff had previously served as Director of Athletics at Muhlenberg College, where he oversaw a department comprised of 22 NCAA teams and successfully fostered the development of a staff consisting of 30 full-time, 50 part-time employees, a team of volunteers, and three NCAA Ethnic Minority & Women's Internship grant recipients.
Goff replaces Tom Shirley, who announced in August 2023 that he would be stepping down as athletic director in 2024.
Tom Shirley had been in the role since Jan. 1992 and was part of several huge transitions for the University, most recently in 2017 for the Philadelphia University/Jefferson integration. Shirley helped mold the current landscape of Jefferson athletics with the addition of women's volleyball in 1997, men's and women's cross country in 2005, women's rowing in 2006, men's and women's track and field in 2012 and women's golf in 2016.
Shirley also helped athletics in the academic world, with the Rams having earned the NCAA Division II President's Award for Academic Excellence in 12 of 13 years to date, achieving a four-year academic success rate of 90 percent or higher in those years.
Dr. Susan Aldridge, the University's president, appreciates Shirley's service in the role and looks forward to Goff's arrival. She also lauded the search committee, which was helmed by Jeff Cromarty, senior vice president of operations of Jefferson's East Falls Campus.
"While the University will not soon forget everything that Tom Shirley contributed to our athletics program, I am very excited to welcome Corey Goff to Jefferson as our new Athletic Director," she says. "Corey's personal ties to Pennsylvania are not only deep, but his decades spent as an athlete, coach and Director of Athletics speak to a passion that I am certain will benefit Rams student-athletes and the Jefferson community as a whole. We look forward to continued great things for all our Rams athletics programs now, and in the future."
Cromarty noted that he is looking forward to the impact that Goff's leadership will have on athletics and the University itself.
"Corey's experience and successes at other institutions will only serve to strengthen one of the finest athletic programs in all of Division II," says Cromarty. "His excitement to work with Jefferson's student-athletes and coaches is nothing short of palpable."
Cayla Kalani, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee's representative on the search committee, drew upon her four years as a student-athlete, says it was important to find someone who could unite all 17 athletic teams as one.
"It was critical that the incoming athletic director not only demonstrates leadership, but also is able to resonate with the values and aspirations of the student athletes at Jefferson," says Kalani, who played softball for the Rams prior to graduating in May. "Even though my time as a student-athlete at Jefferson has come to an end, I'm thrilled to see where this new chapter takes us. This will set the stage for advancing the institution's athletic programs, while fostering a cohesive athletic community."
Shirley, the winningest active women's basketball coach in DII history and the fifth winningest amongst all divisions (record: 849-376), reflected upon his 35 impactful years at the University.
"I have nothing but positive memories about the position, the place, along with the faculty, staff, and students," Shirley says. "If given the opportunity to start over, I would take on the same role and do it again at Jefferson. I thank senior leadership and particularly Jeff Cromarty for the opportunity to serve in athletics."
After announcing he'd retire from the athletic director role, Shirley helmed the Rams women's basketball team as they achieved the best season in school history. The Rams went 32-2 (the first 30+ win season in program history), had 23 consecutive wins (most in program history), won the CACC Championship and reached the NCAA East Region Final (Sweet 16) for the second consecutive year.
"I wish Corey Goff nothing but success and will assist whenever possible for a seamless transition as our new A.D.," Shirley says. "And I am excited to remain at the University as head coach of women's basketball and look forward to continued success with the team."
Rams student-athletes compete at the NCAA Division II level as part of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference in seven men's and 10 women's sports.
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About Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University, founded in 1824 as the Jefferson Medical College, is today a national doctoral research university and a pioneer in transdisciplinary, professional education. Home of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, Jefferson is a preeminent academic institution delivering high-impact education in over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs to 8,300 students across 10 colleges. The University's academic offerings now include architecture, business, design, engineering, fashion, health, medicine, science, social science and textiles. Jefferson is redefining the higher education value proposition with an approach that is collaborative and active; increasingly global; integrated with industry; focused on research across disciplines to foster innovation and discovery; and technology-enhanced. Student-athletes compete as the Jefferson Rams in the NCAA Division II Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.
