St. John's University Athletics
Staff Directory
Diffley, Ed.D., John
John Diffley, Ed.D.
- Title:
- Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer
- Email:
- Phone:
- 6836
John Diffley was named Interim Athletic Director on July 1, 2024. He also serves as the Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing day-to-day operations of the Red Storm’s 17 Division I athletic programs. His responsibilities include personnel management, capital projects, operations, strategic partnerships, planning, and fundraising. Diffley is an administrative liaison for head coaches and university leadership and serves as the sport administrator for men’s basketball and men’s soccer. As a member of the executive staff, he is involved in strategic planning and oversight of the department’s budget and 85 full-time staff members.
Additionally, Diffley is instrumental in maintaining and developing key partnerships, including the oversight of an exclusive all sports partnership with Nike, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Queens, Professional Physical Therapy and New York City Football Cub. He played a key role in negotiating a 10-year multimedia rights extension with IMG College.
As a chief strategist for athletic facility renovation and capital projects, Diffley chairs the St. John’s Athletics Facilities Master Planning committee. During his tenure in Queens, the department has seen significant facility improvements, including the multi-phase renovation to Carnesecca Arena, an expansion of the sports medicine treatment area, renovation of sports performance training center, creation of an indoor golf practice facility, installation of a turf field and track at DaSilva Memorial Field, resurfacing Jack Kaiser Stadium, installing state-of-the-art video display board in Carnesecca Arena, Carnesecca and Lapchick statue projects, Hall of Fame Room, Belson Stadium Scoreboard and various other projects.
Diffley has represented St. John’s on numerous committees, including the BIG EAST Presidents’ Award Selection Committee, Chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee for two years, Chair of the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Committee, NSCAA Board of Governance Task Force, St. John’s University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Cohort, St. John’s University Capital Planning Committee, St. John’s Campus Climate Committee, Vice President’s Round Table, St. John’s University Facilities Planning Group, and the Strategic Priorities Review Team. Diffley was the Tournament Director of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships First & Second Rounds, the Assistant Tournament Manager of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional at Madison Square Garden and the co-Tournament Manager for the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional at MSG. Diffley served as Co-Chair of the Athletics Tomorrow Task Force responsible for developing all COVID-19 protocols, creating a roadmap for a safe return to campus.
Diffley has been honored for his dedicated service with the Outstanding Achievement Award at St. John’s University. Before his administrative roles, Diffley was head men’s soccer coach at Dominican College and assistant coach at St. John’s University, where he contributed to the team’s NCAA tournament success and BIG EAST titles.
He earned his Master of Business Administration at St. John’s University while spending three years working in the financial services sector for State Street Capital.
Diffley obtained his Doctorate in Educational Administration, Instructional Leadership and serves as an adjunct professor teaching graduate level courses in the Peter J. Tobin College of Business. He also serves on the Board at Albertus Magnus High School.
Diffley played professional soccer both in Europe and the United States and was the 27th player chosen in the inaugural Major League Soccer draft. He played for the United States National Team and was an alternate member of the 1988 United States Olympic Team. In college, Diffley led American University to the NCAA National Final, and played in the longest game in NCAA soccer history. For his on-field achievements, Diffley has been inducted into the Albertus Magnus Hall of Fame, American University Hall of Fame, and the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame.
Diffley resides in Floral Park, N.Y., with his wife, Marcia, and four daughters, Jacqueline, Nicole, Kate, and Jessica.
Additionally, Diffley is instrumental in maintaining and developing key partnerships, including the oversight of an exclusive all sports partnership with Nike, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Queens, Professional Physical Therapy and New York City Football Cub. He played a key role in negotiating a 10-year multimedia rights extension with IMG College.
As a chief strategist for athletic facility renovation and capital projects, Diffley chairs the St. John’s Athletics Facilities Master Planning committee. During his tenure in Queens, the department has seen significant facility improvements, including the multi-phase renovation to Carnesecca Arena, an expansion of the sports medicine treatment area, renovation of sports performance training center, creation of an indoor golf practice facility, installation of a turf field and track at DaSilva Memorial Field, resurfacing Jack Kaiser Stadium, installing state-of-the-art video display board in Carnesecca Arena, Carnesecca and Lapchick statue projects, Hall of Fame Room, Belson Stadium Scoreboard and various other projects.
Diffley has represented St. John’s on numerous committees, including the BIG EAST Presidents’ Award Selection Committee, Chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee for two years, Chair of the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Committee, NSCAA Board of Governance Task Force, St. John’s University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Cohort, St. John’s University Capital Planning Committee, St. John’s Campus Climate Committee, Vice President’s Round Table, St. John’s University Facilities Planning Group, and the Strategic Priorities Review Team. Diffley was the Tournament Director of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships First & Second Rounds, the Assistant Tournament Manager of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional at Madison Square Garden and the co-Tournament Manager for the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional at MSG. Diffley served as Co-Chair of the Athletics Tomorrow Task Force responsible for developing all COVID-19 protocols, creating a roadmap for a safe return to campus.
Diffley has been honored for his dedicated service with the Outstanding Achievement Award at St. John’s University. Before his administrative roles, Diffley was head men’s soccer coach at Dominican College and assistant coach at St. John’s University, where he contributed to the team’s NCAA tournament success and BIG EAST titles.
He earned his Master of Business Administration at St. John’s University while spending three years working in the financial services sector for State Street Capital.
Diffley obtained his Doctorate in Educational Administration, Instructional Leadership and serves as an adjunct professor teaching graduate level courses in the Peter J. Tobin College of Business. He also serves on the Board at Albertus Magnus High School.
Diffley played professional soccer both in Europe and the United States and was the 27th player chosen in the inaugural Major League Soccer draft. He played for the United States National Team and was an alternate member of the 1988 United States Olympic Team. In college, Diffley led American University to the NCAA National Final, and played in the longest game in NCAA soccer history. For his on-field achievements, Diffley has been inducted into the Albertus Magnus Hall of Fame, American University Hall of Fame, and the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame.
Diffley resides in Floral Park, N.Y., with his wife, Marcia, and four daughters, Jacqueline, Nicole, Kate, and Jessica.
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