Now in his 10th year with Binghamton University, Ze Zeon serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Development Officer for the Bearcats. With nearly two decades of athletic leadership experience, Ze’s expertise spans fundraising, brand management, strategic planning, fiscal management, revenue generation, and facility oversight. A former student-athlete and coach, Ze is widely recognized for driving results.
As a senior member of the executive leadership team, Ze oversees all areas of external advancement, including major gift fundraising, annual giving, business development, marketing and promotion, strategic communication, corporate partnerships, community engagement, licensing and trademarks, ticket sales, multimedia, game day experience, and new revenue initiatives. He also serves as the Director of the University’s Licensing and Trademark Services and as Sport Supervisor for men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse, and men’s soccer.
Under Ze’s leadership, Binghamton Athletics has achieved its most successful fundraising period in program history, highlighted by a $33 million scholarship endowment and nearly $80 million in total philanthropic support. His strategic approach has broadened the donor pipeline, transformed community engagement, and fueled record success across mission-critical priorities.
Selected Accomplishments:
- Secured major gifts totaling nearly $80 million in support of Binghamton Athletics, including a $33 million scholarship endowment.
- Achieved 100% annual staff giving for three consecutive years.
- Reported the highest single-year revenue increase in licensing and royalties.
- Negotiated the largest healthcare partnership agreement in program history, increasing its value by 650%.
- Grew corporate sponsorship revenue by 300%.
- Spearheaded multiple registered trademarks to strengthen brand identity and visibility.
- Established the division’s first-ever giving societies (1946 Legacy Society and Bearcat Society).
- Launched the “Binghamton Community Kids Day” program.
- Revamped the Junior Bearcats program—growing membership by over 630% within three weeks.
- Oversaw the construction of a 35,000-square-foot indoor field house.
- Directed major renovations of the Bearcats Softball Complex and the construction of the Bearcats Baseball Complex.
- Delivered multiple enhancements to the Events Center and Bearcats Sports Complex.
- Organized the first-ever student-athlete giving challenge, achieving 99% participation.
- Established the Battle of the Interstate rivalry basketball 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.
- Supervised the 2024 women’s lacrosse program, which won its first-ever conference title and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.
- Advanced Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships and opportunities for student-athletes.
- Influenced 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-ever Youth Day basketball game.
- Launched the annual #ONEBinghamton Madness season kickoff event.
- Expanded Binghamton Athletics’ viewership footprint through a linear TV partnership with SNY—reaching over 80 million homes.
Before his promotion to Deputy AD, Ze served as Associate Athletic Director, managing facilities, operations, game management, and capital projects. Beyond athletics, he contributes to campus-wide initiatives, including the SUNY Child Protection Committee, the Professional Staff Senate Evaluation Coordinating Committee, and multiple senior leadership search committees. At the conference level, he serves on the America East Championships Gender Equity Review Panel and the Championship Committee.
Ze also serves as the Divisional Diversity Officer for Athletics and the NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID), championing equity and inclusion at all levels of the department.
Since joining Binghamton in January 2016, Ze has been a tireless advocate for the university, securing bids to host multiple America East Championships and guiding the institution through a successful return to intercollegiate competition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional Recognition:
- Selected in 2025 for the FCS/I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Fellows Program, a national initiative to prepare future athletics directors.
- 2025 Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium (CALS) participant.
- 2022 participant in the NACDA Senior Administrator Mentoring Institute.
- Participant in Advancement Resources’ The Art and Science of Donor Development.
- Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Certified Double-Goal Coach.
- 2021 recipient of Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion certification.
Previously, Ze held leadership roles at Stony Brook University (2013–15) and Saint Peter’s University (2008–13), where he managed event operations, capital projects, and athletic programs. His early career began with the New Jersey Nets during the 2006–07 NBA season as a Basketball Operations Intern, supporting the coaching staff and players.
Ze holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Saint Peter’s University, as well as a Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University. A former two-sport standout at Ramapo, he competed in soccer and volleyball before beginning his coaching and leadership career in college athletics.
He is a member of NACDA, the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), NACMA, and NAADD. Ze resides in Greater Binghamton with his wife, Sarah, their daughter, Sienna Maecee, their son, Matteo Sebastian, and their dog, Chloe.
