Booker T. McLean
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- Email:
- bmclean2@essex.edu
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- Title:
- Assistant Athletic Director
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- Phone:
- (973) 877-3301
Bio
I’m a passionate athletic professional with a diverse background in coaching, recruiting, fundraising, education, and sports administration. I grew up playing just about every sport, but truly found my stride in football and track, earning college recognition in both. I attended Montville High School before continuing my athletic and academic journey at Valley Forge Military College, where I earned an associate degree in Humanities. I went on to play football at Temple University, earning my bachelor’s degree in Sport Management, and later completed a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Judson University in Elgin, IL.
While at Judson, I helped launch the university’s inaugural football program, coaching both wide receivers and defensive backs—an experience that remains one of my proudest professional milestones. Since then, I’ve built a career focused on athlete development, student success, and program leadership. At Judson, I served as Assistant Athletic Director, advising leadership on student-athlete success initiatives and building systems to improve recruitment and engagement. I also worked at Rutgers University in player development and recruiting, and at St. Joseph’s University in athletic operations and facilities management.
In addition to my athletic work, I’ve served as a Special Education Coordinator at Success Academy, where I supported student learning plans, collaborated with teachers and families, and ensured compliance with academic and behavioral goals. This role deepened my commitment to holistic student development—on and off the field.
Outside the education and athletics space, I worked as a Sales Analyst at EVO9X, driving a 42% increase in sales and securing collegiate licensing deals. Most recently, I served as Recruiting Director at Strategies For Wealth in New York, where I hosted leadership events and built partnerships with C-level executives, professional coaches, and former collegiate athletes.
I credit my athletic ability and drive to my parents—my mother, who played netball at a high level in Jamaica, and my father, who played professional soccer there as well. Sports have always been in my blood, and now I’m grateful for the opportunity to extend that passion to the next generation of student-athletes, helping them grow both on and off the field.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, going for bike rides, and playing basketball whenever I can.