Bob Alpers ’82 to retire as St. John’s athletic director

On April 9, St. John’s athletic director, Bob Alpers ’82, announced his retirement after 39 years at St. John’s. Alpers began his role as athletic director in July 2016.

Along with serving as athletic director, Alpers coached the Johnnies golf team from 1993 to 2023 and was an assistant coach on the basketball team for 20 seasons after being a part
of the team himself as a student.

He was named All-MIAC his senior season as well as being selected as the Johnnies’ Most Valuable Player. Alpers also helped lead the Johnnies to two MIAC titles and four NCAA DIII tournament appearances.

SJU basketball head coach Pat McKenzie, who played for the Johnnies when Alpers was an assistant coach on the team, spoke to Alpers’ impact on the Johnnie basketball program.

“As a player, he was a part of some very good teams, likewise as an assistant coach,” McKenzie said. McKenzie also spoke to how Alpers would run the St. John’s summer basketball camp for years.

McKenzie also mentioned the line of coaches at St. John’s who have stuck around for a long time in Collegeville and have made a big impact on Johnnie athletics, with Alpers being one of these people.

Alpers’ retirement creates an opportunity for the next athletic director to make a big impact on St. John’s.

SJU head football coach, Gary Fasching ’81, had high praise for what Alpers has done for the athletic department.

“I have known Bob Alpers for the past 30 years as a colleague in the Athletic Department. If you look around the Athletic Department you can see some of the things that Bob had a hand in improving. Bob was a champion to the coaches in the department. He fought for the addition of more coaches to help out the athletic programs,” Fasching said via email. “Bob also improved the aesthetics of the athletic building. The athletic branding of our sports program was improved greatly under Bob’s guidance. The game day management of our athletic venues were also improved.”

Head golf coach and club sports director, Chris Howe ’99, also described Alpers’ impact on the athletic department.

“Bob gave his entire career to the Athletic Department. He is a walking encyclopedia of Johnnie Athletics,” Howe said via email. “He spent 39 years working in different capacities to serve Johnnie student athletes. He was instrumental in creating a national power in college golf, guiding Johnnie golf to two NCAA Championships. The most significant thing though, was his genuine love and passion and enthusiasm [for] St. John’s.”

Under Alpers, the golf team won 13 MIAC titles and had 20 NCAA appearances with back-to-back wins in 2007 and 2008.

Alpers has won Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Region Coach of the Year 14 times, Eaton Golf Pride Coach of the Year in 2007 and was inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame in 2010.

His program has also produced 34 All-Americans and 43 Scholar All-Americans.

In addition to his work in the athletics department, Alpers has been a big advocate for service within the athletic department.

On Sunday, the SJU Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) held its ninth annual Kids Fighting Hunger packing event, which Alpers worked to start.

“Bob had a vision of getting our student athletes involved in volunteering and service by promoting events such as Kids Fighting Hunger which has packaged meals for hundreds of thousands of needy children. Bob had a positive impact on our athletic department and our University, and I believe he did the best he could to keep our athletic teams competing at a high level,” Fasching said via email. Alpers’ retirement is effective June 30, and an interim director is expected to be named soon.