Robert D. “Bob” Symons was the first director of
athletics at Felician College, serving from July 1993 to June 2002.
He was also the initial coach of the women’s and men’s
cross-country teams.
Symons provided the foundation for recreation and intercollegiate
athletics at Felician. Among his initial acts was designing and
securing funding for the fitness center in Kirby Hall. Symons
obtained the program’s first national affiliation (with the
NAIA) and hired coaching staffs for its four inaugural varsity
sports, which took the field in the 1996-97 school year. He is also
repsonsible for naming Felician’s student-athletes the
“Golden Falcons.”
When Felician expanded its intercollegiate offerings to include
cross-country in Fall 2000, Symons named himself head coach of both
teams. He guided the men to back-to-back Central Atlantic
Collegiate Conference championships in 2000 and 2001, and was named
the CACC Men’s Coach of the Year following both seasons. The
2000 squad was the first Golden Falcon team to qualify for a
national championship, competing at the NAIA nationals in Kenosha,
Wis.
Symons began his teaching and coaching career in the Kansas City,
Mo., public school system. He has been the personal coach for
several elite track & field athletes, including two-time
Olympic gold-medalist Danette Young.
Symons received a bachelor’s degree in physical education and
sociology from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., in 1977. He
earned his master’s degree in sport psychology and
administration in 1980 from the University of Kansas. Since leaving
Felician, Symons has taught health, physical education, and driver
education at The Bergen Academies. He is also an adjunct professor
at William Paterson University and Montclair State University.
Symons, who resides in Verona, has five children -- Desi, Michelle,
Zach, Emily, and Ryan.
last updated 9/13/13
