Erica Grube

Imperati assesses first phase of Kenyon career

8/25/2026 2:00:00 PM

Jason Imperati began work as Kenyon's Director of Athletics, Fitness and Recreaction on June 1. He came to Gambier after four years of serving as the Director of Athletics at Lawrence University, an NCAA Division III institution in Appleton, Wisconsin. Since his arrival, Imperati, a native of Long Island, New York, has been listening and learning about Kenyon and Kenyon Athletics. At the same time, he's been blending in his personal brand of leadership across interactions with coaches, administrators, staff, and student-athletes. Looking back at his first two months and looking at what's to come, Imperati took the time to answer a few questions about his roles as learner and leader in the early stages of his Kenyon career.

Q: What did your first two months here at Kenyon look like? What were some accomplishments and what stood out to you during that time?
A: The first two months have been busy, but productive. I arrived during several staff searches and also led the search for our first head squash coach as we prepared to launch that program. I have spent a significant amount of time meeting with people across campus to better understand Kenyon and how the College operates. I also met with our athletics administrative team to establish priorities for the year and had the opportunity to connect individually with many of our coaches.
One early priority was identifying the need to retain three full-time sports information professionals. I have also enjoyed being part of the Benson Bowl lighting project, which will create more flexibility for our teams and reduce missed class time for our student-athletes. We are also in the early stages of developing a facilities master plan for athletics, which will help guide our priorities moving forward.
What has stood out to me is how much pride people have in Kenyon and how willing they have been to help me learn the institution. There is a strong commitment to providing a great experience for our students, and that has been reaffirmed in many of the conversations I have had.

Q: What about the next two months? As students come back and games are starting to be played again, what do your priorities look like?
A: The biggest priority is making sure we are ready to support our student-athletes as they return to campus. Once practices and games begin, I want to be visible and spend time around our teams. That means getting out of the office, attending practices and competitions, and continuing to build relationships with our coaches and student-athletes.
We also need to make sure we are communicating well and operating consistently across the department. There will be challenges as we get the year started, and we will need to work through those together.
The next two months will give me the chance to see our coaches and student-athletes in action and get a better feel for the department once everyone is back on campus.

Q: What have you appreciated about Kenyon so far, and where do you see opportunities for continued growth?
A: One thing I have appreciated is how willing people have been to meet, share information and help me better understand Kenyon. There is a strong sense of pride in the institution, and people care deeply about the experience we provide our students.
One area for continued growth is creating more consistency in how we communicate and operate across the department. That is not something that changes overnight, and I am still learning, but I want to make sure expectations and processes are clear and that we are working together as one department.

Q: Describe your leadership style? What can coaches and/or student-athletes expect from you?
A: I would describe my leadership style as collaborative and relationship-driven. I want to hear different perspectives and make sure people feel comfortable bringing ideas or concerns forward. At the same time, I believe it is my responsibility to make decisions, provide direction and set clear expectations.
Coaches and student-athletes can expect me to be visible, accessible and honest. I will listen, ask questions and advocate for our programs, but I will also hold people accountable. Preparation, professionalism, communication and consistency are important to me. Ultimately, I want to create an environment where people feel supported, our programs work together and the student-athlete experience remains at the center of what we do.

Q: How do you go about ensuring student-athletes' academic success alongside their athletic commitments?
A: At Kenyon, academics have to remain the priority. A big part of that is working closely with our Faculty Athletics Representatives, Judy Holdener and PJ Glandon, to maintain strong communication between athletics and the faculty.
We also need to be thoughtful about minimizing missed class time, particularly when scheduling non-conference competitions. Our coaches play an important role as well by communicating concerns early and connecting student-athletes with the appropriate campus resources. Academic and athletic success can work together, but it requires communication and planning.

Q: What are your visions for community engagement and fundraising?
A: Our vision is for Kenyon Athletics to be a strong partner both on campus and in the surrounding community. We want our student-athletes to be visible through volunteering and other opportunities that allow them to share their academic and athletic experiences.
To help move that work forward, we reevaluated an open position in the department and reworked the job description to create an Assistant Athletic Director for Community Engagement. I am excited to see what that position can become and how it can strengthen those relationships.
My vision for fundraising is to create a collaborative and coordinated approach across the department. It takes coaches, staff, alumni, families and campus partners working together to build relationships and connect people with the priorities of our programs. Operating budgets can only take us so far, and fundraising will play a significant role in shaping the future of Kenyon Athletics. It is still early, but I am excited to help move that work forward.

Q: What does life away from work look like? What do you enjoy doing with your free time?
A: Away from work, I try to spend as much time as I can with my wife, Michelle, and our dog, Tucker. We are still getting settled and enjoying the opportunity to explore the area together. We have especially enjoyed riding our bikes on the Kokosing Gap Trail. I also like working on cars when I have the time and continuing to expand my Jordan sneaker collection, which has become a hobby of mine over the years.

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