Binghamton University Athletics

Now in his 11th year at Binghamton University, Ze Zeon serves as Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Development Officer and is a member of the Athletics Executive Leadership Team.
Zeon provides strategic oversight of the division’s external advancement department, including development, major gifts, corporate partnerships, marketing, branding, ticket sales, community engagement, multimedia and digital content, game-day experience, donor relations, and new revenue initiatives. He also serves as sport administrator for men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s soccer, and women’s lacrosse.

Since joining Binghamton University in 2016, Zeon has helped expand the division’s external operations, strengthen its culture of philanthropy, and build deeper connections among Athletics, the University, and the greater Binghamton community. During the 2025–26 fiscal year, Binghamton Athletics secured a record $33.64 million in philanthropic support, highlighted by a transformational $22 million endowment supporting the long-term advancement of Bearcat Athletics. Over a three-year period, Zeon led an advancement unit that generated more than $113 million in philanthropic support through major gifts, annual giving, capital initiatives, and strategic donor engagement.

Before assuming his current position, Zeon served as Binghamton’s Associate Director of Athletics for Capital Projects, Facilities, Events and Operations from 2016 to 2023. In that role, he directed comprehensive facility and event operations, supervised more than 25 full- and part-time staff members, and generated more than $290,000 annually through facility rentals and external partnerships. He has held leadership roles in capital initiatives totaling more than $40 million and directed multimillion-dollar facility improvements, including the construction of an indoor field house and enhancements to Binghamton’s baseball, softball, and basketball facilities.

Before joining Binghamton, Zeon served as Assistant Director of Athletics for Event Operations and Facilities at Stony Brook University. He oversaw a $1.3 million operating budget, managed approximately $410,000 annually in facility rental and event revenue, and directed NCAA, Colonial Athletic Association, and America East Conference postseason events. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Director of Athletics for Operations at Saint Peter’s University, overseeing facilities, event management, strength and conditioning, equipment operations, budgets, contracts, and championship logistics. He also served as sport administrator for five varsity programs.

Zeon began his professional career as an assistant men’s basketball coach and athletics facilities supervisor at Ramapo College. He also completed a basketball operations internship with the then-NBA’s New Jersey Nets (Brooklyn Nets). His experiences as an NCAA two-sport student-athlete, team captain, coach, facilities administrator, sport administrator, and revenue-generation executive have provided him with a comprehensive understanding of intercollegiate athletics.

In addition to his Athletics responsibilities, Zeon serves as Binghamton University’s Director of Licensing and Trademark Services. He is the department’s NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee and serves on the America East Conference Championship Gender Equity Review Panel.

Zeon holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from Saint Peter’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Ramapo College. His leadership approach is grounded in relationship-building, accountability, and the belief that sustainable success requires the right resources, strong relationships, and clearly defined standards. He resides in Greater Binghamton with his wife, Sarah, their daughter, Sienna, and their son, Matteo.

Leadership Development and Professional Recognition:

• Selected for the 2025 FCS/I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Fellows Program, a national leadership development initiative preparing future athletics directors.
• Selected for the 2026 NACDA Sport Administrator Leadership Institute.
• Selected for the 2025 Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium (CALS).
• Selected for the 2022 NACDA Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute.
• Completed Advancement Resources’ Art and Science of Donor Development program.
• Earned Double-Goal Coach certification through the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA).
• Earned Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion Certificate in 2021.

Selected Accomplishments:

• Secured major gifts totaling more than $113 million in support of Binghamton Athletics.
• Achieved 100% annual staff giving participation for four consecutive years.
• Launched the Women Leaders for Binghamton Athletics giving society.
• Achieved the department’s largest single-year revenue increase in licensing and royalties.
• Negotiated the largest healthcare partnership agreement in program history.
• Increased corporate sponsorship revenue by 300%.
• Spearheaded the registration of multiple trademarks to strengthen brand identity and visibility.
• Established the division’s first giving societies: the 1946 Legacy Society and Bearcat Society.
• Launched the Binghamton Community Kids Day program.
• Revamped the Junior Bearcats program, increasing membership by more than 630% within three weeks.
• Oversaw construction of a 35,000-square-foot indoor field house.
• Directed major renovations of the Bearcats Softball Complex and construction of the Bearcats Baseball Complex.
• Delivered multiple enhancements to the Events Center and Bearcats Sports Complex.
• Organized the division’s first student-athlete giving challenge, achieving 99% participation.
• Established the Battle of the Interstate basketball rivalry series.
• Launched the “Experience the Bearcat” initiative.
• Increased premium courtside seating memberships by 42%.
• Directed the redesign of binghamtonbearcats.com to align with the University’s forward-focused brand identity.
• Served as sport administrator for the 2024 women’s lacrosse program, which won its first America East Conference championship and earned its first NCAA tournament appearance.
• Advanced Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships and opportunities for student-athletes.
• Helped advance a multimillion-dollar renovation of the University’s outdoor track and field facility.
• Developed a comprehensive naming opportunity plan in collaboration with the Division of Advancement.
• Created a strategic plan to endow head coaching and administrative positions through naming opportunities.
• Designed a new secondary athletics logo to reflect the University’s modern brand identity.
• Organized the division’s first Youth Day basketball game.
• Launched #ONEBinghamton Madness season kickoff event.
• Expanded Binghamton Athletics’ television footprint through a partnership with SportsNet New York (SNY) and MSG Networks, reaching approximately 33 million homes nationwide.