Eric Brennan has been named the interim head men’s basketball coach at Rowan University after serving as an assistant coach with the Profs for the past five years, it was announced today by director of athletics Dr. John Giannini.
“As an assistant, Coach Brennan contributed greatly to Rowan’s recent success under Coach Joe Crispin. He has been an excellent recruiter and has strong relationships with players. Coach Brennan was also an assistant at Jefferson University under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach, Herb Magee, who is the second winningest college basketball coach of all time. His two apprenticeships in highly successful programs have prepared him well to lead a talented returning Rowan team that he is very familiar with.”
Brennan was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Profs’ teams that in four seasons of competition (2020-21 was canceled due to pandemic) compiled an 84-31 record, won two conference championships and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. This past season, Rowan won the NJAC title and reached the NCAA Sweet 16, marking the furthest advancement in the tournament since 1997-98, while ending the year ranked 17th nationally.
“I am honored for the opportunity to represent Rowan University as head coach of the men’s basketball program. I am humbled and extremely grateful to Dr. Giannini and Rowan University’s leadership team for entrusting me with this position,” said Brennan. “Thanks to my wife, Jessica, and my family in supporting me as I take on this new role. I am excited to continue the amazing experience the Rowan community has afforded me over the last five years.”
“Rowan’s rich basketball tradition precedes itself. It has a national reputation led most recently by Coach Crispin, and previously by Coach Cassidy and Dr. Giannini. I will work diligently to ensure the Rowan men’s basketball program continues these ways and is a program the entire university will be proud of,” Brennan said. “I look forward to helping our current young men grow and graduate while also ushering in the next generation of future Profs. Go Profs!”
He spent four seasons on the staff at Philadelphia University (now Jefferson) under Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee, where the Rams won three Central Athletic Collegiate Conference titles, and participated in the NCAA Tournament four times.
Brennan’s collegiate career included two years at Kutztown University (2010-12) where he was a two-time All-PSAC selection and was named the team’s MVP in 2012. Prior to that he played for Lock Haven University and was an All-Conference selection there as well. Upon graduation, he played professionally in Finland for a season.
In addition to serving on Rowan’s coaching staff, Brennan has been with Rowan Global since 2018, first as the assistant director of admissions until being named the director of graduate and online admissions in 2023.
A 2012 graduate of Kutztown University, Brennan earned his master’s of business administration from Gwynedd Mercy University in 2018 and is completing his doctorate in higher education at Rowan.
Brennan named Interim Head Basketball Coach at Rowan
