Rick Cole Jr.

Induction year: 2020

Location: Oakdale

Occupation: Athletic director

Rick Cole Jr. is Vice President and Director of Athletics at Hofstra University with more than 20 years experience in athletic administration.

The Oakdale resident was Vice President of Athletics at Iona College, Vice President of Athletics at Dowling College, and senior associate athletic director for external affairs at St. John’s University and associate athletic director for external affairs and advancement at Stony Brook University.

At Hofstra since his arrival in 2018, the Pride have already won multiple conference championships and Hofstra set school records in GPA and community service hours; Cole also oversaw negotiations with Nike, who became the official apparel supplier for all of Hofstra’s 21 athletic programs.

During his five-year tenure at Iona, the Gaels programs set records in athletics, academics, community service, and revenue. Iona earned 18 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships, including three straight MAAC tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances for men’s basketball, and the first-ever MAAC tournament and NCAA appearance for women’s basketball in 2015-16.

He is also a founding board member of the Dezy Strong Foundation.

Photographer: Philip Hinds

Photographer: Philip Hinds