Temple University Athletics
Leach, Silk Named Associate Directors of Athletics Development
6.18.21 | General, Owl Club
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University Senior Associate AD/Assistant Vice President for Development Chris Jones announced today that Rob Silk has been promoted to Associate Director of Athletics Development and that David C. Leach will be joining his staff as an Associate Director of Athletics Development.
"It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have been able to promote one of our hardest workers in Rob Silk while also bringing on board a seasoned veteran athletics administrator in Dave Leach," said Jones.
"Since his arrival Rob has proven his value, procuring annual, major and estate gifts and has also been instrumental to securing gifts for men's crew and women's rowing. We are looking forward to him continuing the fine work he has done for those programs as well as the rest of our sport programs.
"Dave is a proven athletics administrator with over thirty years. Anytime you can add that kind of experience to your team is great. He also understands the landscape of higher education and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to Temple University and the versatility he'll bring to our team."
Silk joined the Owl Club staff as the Assistant Director of Development in January 2020 where he was responsible for soliciting and securing leadership level annual gifts to support the mission of the University and Athletics Department.
"I am so thankful to have my efforts recognized with this promotion," said Silk. "Temple is in my blood. So to be able to work to promote the University and its athletics programs on a daily basis is truly a privilege."
A longtime supporter of Temple, Silk served as chair of the Owl Club Legends Society and a member of the Acres of Diamonds Gala Committee. He has 30 years of workforce experience, serving as the Vice President and Founding Partner of a successful multimillion-dollar small business.
A 1988 graduate of Temple with a degree in business, Silk was a four-year member of the Temple crew team. He was a member of Owl boats that won four-straight Dad Vail Regatta heavyweight eight titles in his career.
Leach, who is currently an adjunct instructor in Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management and does athletics/recreation consulting work, was most recently the Director of Athletics at Bryn Athyn College (2019-2020), where he was charged with oversight of 13 NCAA Division III varsity sports.
Additionally, he served as the administrative point on the budget, fundraising, athletic admissions and varsity facility scheduling and operation.
"I'm thrilled to be coming back to North Broad Street," said Leach. "As an alum, Temple Made and Temple Proud, I look forward to contributing to the Owls' future success."
Preceding his time at Bryn Athyn, Leach served as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Recreation and Wellness at the University of Pennsylvania (2017-2019). At Penn, Leach instituted the Recreation Advisory Committee, sat on the Healthy Penn Partners committee and served on the Student Engagement Working Group. He oversaw a $10M budget and led a staff of 21 full-time professionals and over 250 part-time employees. Two successful capital projects were completed during his tenure — a renovated Multi-Purpose area with cardio and functional fitness areas; and a $2M air-handling renovation, featuring the addition of air conditioning to Gimbel Gymnasium.
Prior to arriving at Penn, Leach served eleven years at Princeton University as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Campus Recreation (2006-2017). He served as the primary administrator — managing programming, staff and coaches, facilities, and budgets associated with Campus Recreation. Leach sat on the Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics, the "Healthier Princeton Advisory Board" – which integrates the work of various departments into a concerted effort to address the health and well-being needs of the Princeton University community, and the University's Yoga Council. He chaired the Intramural Working Group and the Sport Club Policy Review Committee. He created the Committee on Campus Recreation and served as its chair. A capstone achievement was a $17M renovation of the A Level of Dillon Gymnasium — which yielded improved access, new locker rooms, family/single-use changing/shower areas, and team rooms for the varsity volleyball and sport club programs.
Before his time at Princeton, Leach was Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Recreation at Saint Joseph's University (1995-2006). He oversaw recreation, which included a comprehensive intramural program, the University's sports clubs, instructional programming, outdoor recreation, Sports Complex facilities, and varsity game/event operations. Leach was a member of the Saint Joseph's University Alcohol Task Force, the University Safety Committee, and served as advisor to the Hand-in-Hand student service organization.
Leach began his professional career at Temple University (1991-1995), where he worked in both the Athletics and Recreation Services Departments. While at Temple, he instituted a Sportsmanship Rating System for intramural participants (which is still in use).
Leach currently serves as a Director-at-Large on the Temple University School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management Alumni Association Board. He previously served two terms as a member of the Board of Directors for the Princeton YMCA, most recently chairing the Property Committee as a member of the Executive Committee. Additionally, Leach has also coached and done work in municipal parks and recreation.
Leach holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration (1990) and a master's degree in Education (1993), both from Temple University; and attended the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy (2017). While at Princeton, he was a Mathey College Fellow and was later made an Honorary Member of Princeton University's Class of 2017.
"It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have been able to promote one of our hardest workers in Rob Silk while also bringing on board a seasoned veteran athletics administrator in Dave Leach," said Jones.
"Since his arrival Rob has proven his value, procuring annual, major and estate gifts and has also been instrumental to securing gifts for men's crew and women's rowing. We are looking forward to him continuing the fine work he has done for those programs as well as the rest of our sport programs.
"Dave is a proven athletics administrator with over thirty years. Anytime you can add that kind of experience to your team is great. He also understands the landscape of higher education and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to Temple University and the versatility he'll bring to our team."
Silk joined the Owl Club staff as the Assistant Director of Development in January 2020 where he was responsible for soliciting and securing leadership level annual gifts to support the mission of the University and Athletics Department.
"I am so thankful to have my efforts recognized with this promotion," said Silk. "Temple is in my blood. So to be able to work to promote the University and its athletics programs on a daily basis is truly a privilege."
A longtime supporter of Temple, Silk served as chair of the Owl Club Legends Society and a member of the Acres of Diamonds Gala Committee. He has 30 years of workforce experience, serving as the Vice President and Founding Partner of a successful multimillion-dollar small business.
A 1988 graduate of Temple with a degree in business, Silk was a four-year member of the Temple crew team. He was a member of Owl boats that won four-straight Dad Vail Regatta heavyweight eight titles in his career.
Leach, who is currently an adjunct instructor in Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management and does athletics/recreation consulting work, was most recently the Director of Athletics at Bryn Athyn College (2019-2020), where he was charged with oversight of 13 NCAA Division III varsity sports.
Additionally, he served as the administrative point on the budget, fundraising, athletic admissions and varsity facility scheduling and operation.
"I'm thrilled to be coming back to North Broad Street," said Leach. "As an alum, Temple Made and Temple Proud, I look forward to contributing to the Owls' future success."
Preceding his time at Bryn Athyn, Leach served as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Recreation and Wellness at the University of Pennsylvania (2017-2019). At Penn, Leach instituted the Recreation Advisory Committee, sat on the Healthy Penn Partners committee and served on the Student Engagement Working Group. He oversaw a $10M budget and led a staff of 21 full-time professionals and over 250 part-time employees. Two successful capital projects were completed during his tenure — a renovated Multi-Purpose area with cardio and functional fitness areas; and a $2M air-handling renovation, featuring the addition of air conditioning to Gimbel Gymnasium.
Prior to arriving at Penn, Leach served eleven years at Princeton University as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Campus Recreation (2006-2017). He served as the primary administrator — managing programming, staff and coaches, facilities, and budgets associated with Campus Recreation. Leach sat on the Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics, the "Healthier Princeton Advisory Board" – which integrates the work of various departments into a concerted effort to address the health and well-being needs of the Princeton University community, and the University's Yoga Council. He chaired the Intramural Working Group and the Sport Club Policy Review Committee. He created the Committee on Campus Recreation and served as its chair. A capstone achievement was a $17M renovation of the A Level of Dillon Gymnasium — which yielded improved access, new locker rooms, family/single-use changing/shower areas, and team rooms for the varsity volleyball and sport club programs.
Before his time at Princeton, Leach was Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Recreation at Saint Joseph's University (1995-2006). He oversaw recreation, which included a comprehensive intramural program, the University's sports clubs, instructional programming, outdoor recreation, Sports Complex facilities, and varsity game/event operations. Leach was a member of the Saint Joseph's University Alcohol Task Force, the University Safety Committee, and served as advisor to the Hand-in-Hand student service organization.
Leach began his professional career at Temple University (1991-1995), where he worked in both the Athletics and Recreation Services Departments. While at Temple, he instituted a Sportsmanship Rating System for intramural participants (which is still in use).
Leach currently serves as a Director-at-Large on the Temple University School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management Alumni Association Board. He previously served two terms as a member of the Board of Directors for the Princeton YMCA, most recently chairing the Property Committee as a member of the Executive Committee. Additionally, Leach has also coached and done work in municipal parks and recreation.
Leach holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration (1990) and a master's degree in Education (1993), both from Temple University; and attended the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy (2017). While at Princeton, he was a Mathey College Fellow and was later made an Honorary Member of Princeton University's Class of 2017.
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