Meet AU’s New AD

When JM Caparro looked to take the next step in his career in sports, he saw American University as a winning combination of academics and athletics.

"Everyone I've talked to-donors, coaches, current staff, former staff-they all rave about the family atmosphere of this place," said Caparro, who was last month named AU's 15th director of athletics and recreation. "And that's exactly what I was looking for. I think I've hit a home run here."

Caparro met the Eagle family during his introductory press conference on April 15. Joined by his wife, Karen, and their four children, Joseph, Caroline, Sophia, and Isabel, Caparro spoke to the campus community about his excitement to lead nearly 300 student-athletes and 16 varsity programs into the future. Caparro, who will join AU in June, succeeds the retiring Billy Walker, who has served in the role since April 2013.

"Together, the vision for our department will be simple: We're going to put the student-athletes at the forefront of every decision that we make," Caparro said. "We're going to compete in the classroom and on the playing field, and we're going to be extremely active in the community. If we do these things consistently, we will develop future leaders that the university will be proud of and provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes."

The Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, native comes to AU from Boston College, where he's worked nine years, including as the deputy director of athletics since July 2022. Before that, Caparro served as the vice president of ticket sales and service for the Brooklyn Nets, where he managed more than $70 million annually.

Caparro joins AU Athletics at an exciting time of change. In March, the university broke ground on the Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance, the first new athletics and recreational construction in more than 30 years-and the cornerstone of the Student Thriving Complex.

AU President Sylvia Burwell said AU and its athletes will be in good hands with Caparro.

"We have incredible student-athletes here, and we now are investing in the facilities to support [them]," she said. And with the new athletic director, "we're going places."