Athletics Elevates BJ Merriam to Executive Senior Associate AD/Chief Compliance Officer
Apr 08 | General
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Athletics has announced the promotion of BJ Merriam to Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director & Chief Compliance Officer, recognizing his leadership in compliance, governance and student-athlete support.
Merriam, who returned to Rutgers in 2023, will continue to lead the department's Office of Athletics Compliance, overseeing all aspects of NCAA, Big Ten and institutional compliance while playing a central role in risk management, policy development and revenue-share implementation.
"BJ's promotion reflects the trust we have in his leadership and the critical role he plays in navigating the increasingly complex landscape of collegiate athletics," said Rutgers Director of Athletics Keli Zinn. "He brings a combination of integrity, institutional knowledge and forward-thinking strategy that ensures we operate at the highest standard and with a deep sense of responsibility to our student-athletes and our university. I'm incredibly appreciative of his commitment to strengthen our department."
In his role, Merriam serves as a key member of the department's leadership team, helping guide strategy related to revenue allocation and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). He works closely with campus partners including the Office of General Counsel, University Ethics & Compliance, Financial Aid, Admissions and the Registrar to ensure alignment across all regulatory and operational areas.
"It is a privilege to continue serving Rutgers under Keli's leadership," Merriam said. "I am grateful for the confidence placed in me and for the opportunities this institution has provided. Upholding the highest standards of compliance and integrity remains essential as we navigate an evolving landscape, and I look forward to contributing to the continued progress that defines this department."
Merriam also serves as the sport administrator for baseball and men's soccer, overseeing program operations, student-athlete welfare and competitive success. He manages a compliance staff responsible for directing rules education, monitoring and policy enforcement across all 24 sports .
Prior to returning to Rutgers, Merriam served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance & Internal Operations at Rider University, where he acted as Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy Title IX Coordinator. He oversaw compliance for all 19 sports, implemented a new compliance software system, introduced NIL programming and served as sport administrator for nine programs.
Merriam's earlier tenure at Rutgers included roles as Director of Compliance and later Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance, where he managed NCAA compliance operations and served as a liaison across multiple internal units. His experience also includes compliance roles at the University of Pennsylvania, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Bucknell University, where he developed rules education programs, participated in eligibility certification and contributed to national governance and legislative processes.
Before transitioning into athletics administration, Merriam was a collegiate soccer coach at Susquehanna University, helping lead the program to back-to-back conference championships and a national ranking.
Merriam earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Susquehanna University and a Master of Science in Education from Bucknell University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational and Industrial Psychology at Rutgers.
A native of South Jersey, Merriam and his wife, Kati are the parents to three children – Hudson, Emerson and Lincoln.
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
Merriam, who returned to Rutgers in 2023, will continue to lead the department's Office of Athletics Compliance, overseeing all aspects of NCAA, Big Ten and institutional compliance while playing a central role in risk management, policy development and revenue-share implementation.
"BJ's promotion reflects the trust we have in his leadership and the critical role he plays in navigating the increasingly complex landscape of collegiate athletics," said Rutgers Director of Athletics Keli Zinn. "He brings a combination of integrity, institutional knowledge and forward-thinking strategy that ensures we operate at the highest standard and with a deep sense of responsibility to our student-athletes and our university. I'm incredibly appreciative of his commitment to strengthen our department."
In his role, Merriam serves as a key member of the department's leadership team, helping guide strategy related to revenue allocation and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). He works closely with campus partners including the Office of General Counsel, University Ethics & Compliance, Financial Aid, Admissions and the Registrar to ensure alignment across all regulatory and operational areas.
"It is a privilege to continue serving Rutgers under Keli's leadership," Merriam said. "I am grateful for the confidence placed in me and for the opportunities this institution has provided. Upholding the highest standards of compliance and integrity remains essential as we navigate an evolving landscape, and I look forward to contributing to the continued progress that defines this department."
Merriam also serves as the sport administrator for baseball and men's soccer, overseeing program operations, student-athlete welfare and competitive success. He manages a compliance staff responsible for directing rules education, monitoring and policy enforcement across all 24 sports .
Prior to returning to Rutgers, Merriam served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance & Internal Operations at Rider University, where he acted as Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy Title IX Coordinator. He oversaw compliance for all 19 sports, implemented a new compliance software system, introduced NIL programming and served as sport administrator for nine programs.
Merriam's earlier tenure at Rutgers included roles as Director of Compliance and later Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance, where he managed NCAA compliance operations and served as a liaison across multiple internal units. His experience also includes compliance roles at the University of Pennsylvania, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Bucknell University, where he developed rules education programs, participated in eligibility certification and contributed to national governance and legislative processes.
Before transitioning into athletics administration, Merriam was a collegiate soccer coach at Susquehanna University, helping lead the program to back-to-back conference championships and a national ranking.
Merriam earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Susquehanna University and a Master of Science in Education from Bucknell University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational and Industrial Psychology at Rutgers.
A native of South Jersey, Merriam and his wife, Kati are the parents to three children – Hudson, Emerson and Lincoln.
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 730 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
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