Jesse Balcer was named the College's sixth Director of Athletics and Recreation in October of 2018. In his role as assistant and then associate athletic director, Balcer assisted in the management of all intercollegiate and intramural athletic programs offered at the College, as well as, the administrative, operational, business and compliance functions of the department in accordance with policies and procedures of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was an integral part of the College’s transition from DIII to DII and played a significant role in the recent additions of three varsity sports to the department. Balcer also helped negotiate two huge contracts, the first to make Brittingham’s Pub the official restaurant of GriffinNation and the second to make the college a Nike sponsored school which generates $7,500 worth of product annually. Active throughout the conference as well, Balcer serves on various NCAA committees including regional advisory committees for women’s tennis (since 2013), men’s basketball (since 2014) and women’s lacrosse (since 2015). In addition, Balcer currently serves as chair of the National Women’s Lacrosse Committee, a position he was elected to in 2016.
Balcer joined the Chestnut Hill College Athletics staff as the head coach of the men’s basketball program since its inception in 2003. Under his direction the men’s basketball program was the College’s first to reach postseason play as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), qualifying for an appearance in the CACC Quarterfinals following the 2008-2009 regular season. He was appointed as an assistant director of athletics when joining the staff full time in 2008, was elevated to an associate director in 2012, and was recently made the College’s interim director of athletics and recreation for the summer of 2018.
The Chestnut Hill College men’s basketball program has shown steady improvement since reclassifying to a NCAA Division II institution in 2007, making CACC postseason appearances in seven of his first 10 seasons. The Griffins advanced to the CACC Semifinals with a 67-63 victory over #2S Philadelphia University in 2010-2011 and posted a program-best 18-12 overall record and an 11-6 league standing in the 2011-2012 season, which included an 80-71 win over the eventual National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) DII National Champion, Western Washington University, on November 6, 2011, at the Disney West Coast Tip-off Classic in Anaheim, California. As a result, Coach Balcer was named the Philadelphia-Area Small College Coaches Association (PASCCA) Coach of the Year. Coach Balcer was also named the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC, NCAA DIII) Coach of the Year following a semifinals appearance in 2004-2005. He has fostered the talent of eight All-CACC student-athletes and the program’s eight 1,000-point scorers; Isaac Greer ’07 (2,065 career points), Mark DiRugeris Jr. ’13 (1,629), Dan Comas ’12 (1,311), Shawn Bolling ’07 (1,309), Demetrius Isaac ’18 (1,230), Brandon Williams ’12 (1,179), Julian McFadden ’10 (1,117), Luke Dickson ’16 (1,029). Greer was a three-time NEAC First Team selection and a two-time NEAC Player of the Year (2006-2007, 2004-2005), who was inducted into the Chestnut Hill College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. He was joined in 2014 by his long-time backcourt partner, Bolling. Under Balcer, the men’s basketball program has produced five Athletic Director’s Award winners, including Mike Devine ’07 (2006-2007), McFadden (2008-2009), Williams (2011-2012), Noel Hightower ’16 (2015-2016), and Isaac (2017-2018).
Balcer came to Chestnut Hill College by way of Philadelphia University (currently Jefferson) where he was an assistant coach from 2000 to 2003. His coaching credentials also include assistant varsity and head junior varsity boys’ coach at Lower Moreland High School from 1998 to 2000 and Abington Friends High School where he also served as an assistant varsity coach from 1997 to 1998. Balcer played at Abington Friends School and later, Philadelphia Textile (eventually Philadelphia University), where he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. He played on three nationally-ranked teams under, recently inducted Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Herb Magee, 2011. Balcer enjoyed a trip to the NCAA Elite-Eight in 1992 and was the first walk-on to be named team captain in Ram history. Balcer was also a four-year starter at shortstop on Textile's baseball team and earned All-ECAC honors in 1993-1994. He was Co-Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the baseball team in 1996.
Balcer earned his master's degree in administration of human services from Chestnut Hill College in 2011. He resides in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, with his three children, Isabella, Jesse Jr., and Angelina.
