Following a national search, Daniel DiBerardinis has been named Penn Charter’s new director of athletics. Currently serving as the athletics director at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, Daniel will bring over a decade of athletics leadership experience to Penn Charter, starting July 1, 2025.
An experienced athletics leader deeply respected by both peers and students, Daniel is a lifelong advocate for mission-driven education and athletics excellence. He is excited to bring his vision and leadership to Penn Charter, a school whose Quaker principles align with his core values. Daniel earned a BA in sports and recreation management from Temple University and a BA in educational studies from Grand Canyon University. A lifetime resident of the Fishtown section of Philadelphia, he has a deep passion for his home city.
Daniel began his career at Roman Catholic High School, his alma mater, where he oversaw 17 varsity sports programs, managed 35 teams, and recruited and developed over 100 coaches. He also created intramural programs in soccer, basketball, flag football and frisbee, and led community service initiatives for the athletics department. Additionally, he led NCAA eligibility sessions for student-athletes and served in various leadership roles, including Philadelphia Catholic League baseball and soccer moderator, District XII PIAA soccer moderator and chair of the Philadelphia Catholic League finance and sponsorship committee. During his tenure, he helped guide Roman Catholic to 10 Philadelphia Catholic League Championships and four PIAA State Championships.
In 2019, Daniel was hired to expand the athletic department at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, where he oversaw the completion of the new gymnasium and turf field, introduced three new varsity sports and implemented new recruitment, marketing and fundraising strategies.
Since 2020, Daniel has served as athletics director at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, one of the most successful programs in the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL). He leads 20 varsity sports, 50 teams (at the JV, freshman and varsity levels) and 730 student athletes. Daniel mentors 160 coaches, manages a multi-million dollar budget and oversees the Prep’s athletic facilities, including the fieldhouse and indoor turf facility.
Under Daniel’s leadership, the Prep has won 11 Philadelphia Catholic League Championships, four PIAA state championships in football and medals in swimming, golf, cross country, and track and field. During his tenure, Daniel added three varsity sports (mountain biking, squash and ultimate frisbee) and revitalized much of the school’s indoor athletic facilities, including adding a new 30-yard turf room, expanding the weight room and training facility, enhancing the indoor track and cardio space, upgrading the wrestling room and overseeing the renovation of the Kelly Fieldhouse. He also employed sports psychologist Joel Fish, a nationally recognized expert in the field of sport psychology and director of the Center for Sport Psychology in Philadelphia, to work with coaches and players to raise awareness of mental health in athletics and better support the overall well-being of student athletes. Additionally, Daniel led coaching development seminars, facilitated workshops on NIL and student athletes’ social media presence, and instituted community service projects for all sports teams. He also built strategic partnerships with organizations across the Philadelphia area, including the 76ers and the Eagles.
Along with his athletic leadership experience, Daniel has coached high school basketball and served as vice chair of the Philadelphia Catholic League and D12 basketball chairman. He is committed to the academic, athletic and personal growth of all student athletes, and he looks forward to bringing this dedication to Penn Charter.
Regarding his appointment, Daniel shared, “Growing up and working in this city, I have long admired Penn Charter’s student athletes and alumni. Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the profound impact of a strong athletics program when paired with a school’s commitment to academic excellence and service to others. I am excited to join the Penn Charter community and contribute to its tradition of developing well-rounded young people.”
John Marinacci, president of St. Joseph’s Prep, shared the following about Daniel and his impact on the Prep community, “While Danny is highly effective in executing his duties as an administrator, he is even more adept at supporting and building culture. At the heart of his success is relationships. He develops connections with individuals, teams, institutions and communities. He trusts in them and proves they can trust in him. He invests the time and energy in that foundation, resulting in authentic love, care and loyalty. This helps everyone strive for more. For Danny, it is never just about a team or a program—it is about being a part of the entire formational experience for the students.”
Throughout this search, PC sought a seasoned, strategic leader with deep roots across the Philadelphia area and a proven track record in recruiting and mentoring coaches. We envisioned someone who could provide aspirational leadership—someone not only with extensive experience building exemplary athletic programs but also with the ability to collaborate and engage with partners to elevate the program to new heights. A unique aspect of this search was the concurrent athletics assessment, which will offer valuable insights into the strengths and areas for growth in our program, serving as a guide for the new AD and department. We are confident that Daniel, with his extensive leadership experience and commitment to excellence, is the right person to lead Penn Charter athletics into its next chapter.