Robert ‘Bob’ Hartwell was named the athletic director at Adelphi University in 1986 and was eventually promoted to Assistant Vice President in 2009. Under his direction, the department and its programs were transformed, enjoying tremendous success on the conference, regional and national levels. During his tenure from 1986-2013, the Adelphi Panthers garnered 10 NCAA Championships, 10 NCAA Regional Championships, over 100 NCAA appearances and countless conference titles.

Hartwell also played a central role in the upgrade of every athletic facility on campus. On his watch, the university upgraded baseball's William J. Bonomo Memorial Field in 2007, transformed historic Woodruff Hall, designed and constructed the Center for Recreation and Sports and Motamed Field (formerly known as Stiles Field), the practice field and tennis courts in 2008, and most recently, the new Janet L. Ficke Softball Field, which was completed in 2011.

Some highlights of the Hartwell years at Adelphi are below:

• 1987-1997, Director of Athletics; 1997-2009, Associate Dean/Athletic Director; and 2009-2014, Assistant Vice President

• 1991, re-established Hall of Fame Ceremony

• 1992, added women's volleyball

• 1993, created the Panther Club

• 1996, created the Annual Golf Outing

• 2001, added women's lacrosse

• 2002, Northeast Region Athletic Director of the Year - National Association of Athletic Directors

• 2003, Instituted the "Cans for Cancer" Program

• 2005, Adelphi Athletic Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the National Pro-Am Achievement Award

• 2006, added women's bowling and created the Janet L. Ficke Golf Outing

• 2008, added field hockey; transitioned the athletics program from the East Coast Conference into the Northeast-10; received the NCAA Diversity Honor

• Seven ECC Commissioner's Cup  (98, 99, 01, 02, 03, 05, 08)

• 2013 Northeast-10 Conference President's Cup

• Successfully spearheaded the plan and transition for new and upgraded facilities (Center for Recreation and Sports, Woodruff Hall, Motamed Field, Bonomo Field, Ficke Field, Tennis Courts)

• 2x NCAA Outstanding Contribution Award

• 10 NCAA Championships

Prior to his time at Adelphi, Hartwell was a member of the Babson College athletic department. In 1975, he led the men's soccer team to a National Championship and in 1978, he took over as Athletic Director -- a position he held for eight years. While in that position, Babson added varsity sports in field hockey, women's soccer, women's swimming and diving and women's volleyball.