Ariel “AP” Pesante was named Director of Athletics at Wagner College on July 24, 2026.
Pesante arrived on Grymes Hill from Georgetown University, where he served as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations. As a member of the athletics executive staff, he provided leadership for compliance, academic support, sports medicine and sports performance, served as the sport administrator for football, baseball and women's squash, co-chaired the institution's Name, Image and Likeness working group and helped guide departmental strategy and operations.
Prior to Georgetown, Pesante served as Associate Athletics Director for Governance and Compliance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he oversaw the operation of the Minutemen's compliance program, including rules education, Name, Image and Likeness initiatives, financial aid, NCAA governance and legislative matters. He also served as UMass's sport administrator for football, men's basketball and men's and women's soccer.
Prior to his time in Amherst, Pesante spent three years at Hofstra University as Associate Athletics Director for NCAA Education and Compliance Services. There, he led the department's compliance efforts while providing sport oversight for the baseball and wrestling programs.
Pesante also served as Assistant Athletics Director for Administration and Compliance at the University of Hartford and held compliance positions at Manhattan College and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. He began his collegiate athletics career as a graduate assistant at Delaware State University.
A native of the Bronx, New York, Pesante earned his bachelor's degree from Binghamton University, and a master's degree in sport administration from Delaware State University.
