Mercer County Community College names new athletics director

Following an extensive nationwide search, Mercer County Community College on Wednesday said it tapped Eric Grundman, a veteran coach with extensive experience managing sports programs on the collegiate level, as the new director of athletics, fitness and recreation.

Grundman succeeds John Simone, who retired earlier this year after serving as MCCC’s athletics director for 26 years, which followed his 22-year tenure as a coach and athletics director at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville.

“Following in the footsteps of former Director John Simone is a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” Grundman said. “As a pillar of this community, he has led these programs for 26 years with honor, character and integrity. My roots are grounded in the community college experience, and I look forward to continuing to provide a positive student-centered experience through athletics that prepares our student-athletes for personal and professional success.”

Grundman spent 17 years as assistant director of athletics and recreation at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was responsible for the oversight of 22 men’s and women’s sports programs. He also served as head men’s basketball coach at Marywood for 12 years, and six years as head men’s and women’s golf coach.

Grundman began his career in athletics as assistant men’s basketball coach at Binghamton University, with later positions that included basketball coach at Broome County Community College in New York and Lackawanna College in Scranton, where he won multiple regional championships and was a three-time coach of the year.

Grundman earned his Bachelor of Science in business management and economics with a concentration in sport management from SUNY Empire State College, and a Master of Science in psychology from Ferrum College in Virginia.

“Mercer County Community College has a long and distinguished history of providing a well-rounded educational experience, starting with academics and extending into the arts, athletics and beyond,” MCCC President Deborah Preston said. “We are fortunate to have someone of Eric’s talent and experience join the Mercer team, and we look forward to his expertise in extending the college’s distinguished legacy of integrating athletics into the college experience.”

Grundman began his new position at Mercer on Nov. 13.