Meet Blair's Athletic Department

Director of Athletics
clavep@blair.edu
(908) 362-6121 Ext. 5651

As Blair’s director of athletics, Paul Clavel ’88 oversees the School’s 30 varsity and 21 JV and thirds teams, supporting individual athletes and coaches at all levels of skill and ability. In addition to his administrative responsibilities as athletics director, Paul coaches girls’ varsity golf. During his tenure at Blair, he has also taught mathematics, served as an admission associate, dorm head, academic monitor, member of the Faculty Executive Committee and first assistant wrestling coach. Paul is a proud member of Blair’s class of 1988 who served as a prefect in East Hall, played lacrosse and wrestled, and was elected captain of the wrestling team during his 12th-grade year. He went on to complete his undergraduate work at Old Dominion University, where he wrestled and earned his BS in secondary education and mathematics teaching certification. Prior to joining Blair’s faculty in 2004, Paul taught mathematics in the Virginia public school system for more than a decade and served for six years as head wrestling coach and two years athletic director at Great Bridge Middle School in Chesapeake. He earned an MEd in school administration from Cambridge College in 2004. Paul lives on campus with his wife, Erika, Blair's academic support coordinator, and their two daughters, Avery ’19 and Emma ’24. In his spare time, he enjoys quality time with his family and a quick round of golf on the Blair course.

Head Athletic Trainer
straub@blair.edu
(908) 362-6121 Ext. 5652

Brad Strauss is a certified athletic trainer who joined Blair's faculty in 2001. Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in exercise science from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1995 and became certified by the National Athletic Trainers' Association in 1996. Prior to coming to Blair, he worked at his alma mater, the Peddie School, from 1996 to 2001 as an athletic trainer. At Blair, he teaches first aid and CPR classes. A resident of Paul House in Blairstown, he has also been a clinical preceptor of athletic training for East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania since 2005.

Athletics Operations Manager
costad@blair.edu
(908) 362-6121 Ext. 5650

Athletic operations manager Danielle Costantino joined the athletic office staff in 2017. She manages student athletic participation and rosters and takes care of the myriad details associated with Blair’s robust athletic program. A former graphic designer, she earned a BFA with concentration in computer and graphic design at Monmouth University in 2005.

Assistant Athletic Trainer
lavang@blair.edu
(908) 362-6121

When Blair athletes get injured, athletic trainer Genie Lavanant ’13 is there to support them from point of injury through rehab, helping them return to play. She received her BA in health sciences from Gettysburg College in 2017 and her MS in athletic training in 2019 from Seton Hall University. A resident of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, with her Irish Setter, Chance, Ms. Lavanant joined Blair in February 2022.

Assistant Athletic Director
morosr@blair.edu
(908) 362-6121 Ext. 5740

Assistant athletic director Rhett Moroses ’13 is responsible for all internal and external operations of the athletic department. Additionally, he serves as the head coach of the boys’ JV basketball team an 11th grade academic monitor. He holds an undergraduate degree in sports management and M.Ed in athletic administration from Endicott College. Currently, Rhett resides in Bunnell House with his wife, Margo, daughter, Ophelia, and their cat, Milo.

Strength & Conditioning Coach
palmae@blair.edu
(908) 362-6121

Eugene Palmasano joined Blair's athletic department in 2022 as Blair's head strength and conditioning coach. Geno oversees program development for strength gains and injury prevention, supervises student-athletes in the School's fitness center and gives individual training instruction throughout the year. Prior to Blair, Geno served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for 10 years at Lafayette College, where he worked with the  college's football, swim and dive, and women’s and men’s basketball teams, among others. With his help, Lafayette's 2013 football team and 2015 men’s basketball teams achieved Patriot League championships and NCAA playoff bids. His efforts also contributed to a Lafayette victory in the school's 150th rivalry football game against Lehigh University in 2014. He is also a two-time nominee for Lafayette's Maroon Club Award, the highest honor given to a member of the college's athletic department. Geno holds a certification with the International Sports Science Association. He is an amateur triathlete and has completed more than 90 triathlons, including the Ironman in 2001. Geno resides off-campus in nearby Belvidere, New Jersey, with his wife, Giselle, and daughters, Nicole and Francesca.