SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican announced the resignation of Phil Billeci-Gard Tuesday as he accepted the Athletic Director position at nearby Holy Names University.

"Phil has been an integral part of what we have built here at Dominican," Dominican Athletic Director Amy Henkelman said. "He has spent six years as a senior athletic administrator developing a new position and spent nearly a decade as a coach for our soccer programs. We will miss him, but are excited for what he will go on to accomplish at Holy Names."

Billeci-Gard has deep Dominican roots as he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2008 while playing for the men's soccer team during its years in the NAIA and then earned an MBA in 2018. He also coached the Penguins women's soccer team beginning in 2006 and oversaw its transition to NCAA Division II before being named the men's soccer head coach in 2013. Billeci-Gard was promoted to Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations in 2015; a new position that oversaw budget compliance, the Penguin Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (PSAAC), academics, internal relations, travel, and acting as a sports supervisor for both men's soccer and cross country. 

"Dominican has been a key part of my life for over a decade and I will undoubtedly miss it," Billeci-Gard said. "Dominican has helped me develop into who I am today. I have enjoyed my relationships with all the coaches, administrators, student-athletes and colleagues across campus that I have come to know in my time here. I'd like to specifically thank Amy Henkelman for her belief in and mentorship of me. Without her support I never would have had this opportunity."

During his time at Dominican, he has helped place multiple student-athletes on conference SAAC boards. In 2018, Billeci-Gard was named to the NCAA DII Men's Soccer Committee and then chaired the committee in 2019. He helped organize several major events including the 2016 Make-A-Wish reveal. He helped oversee the academic support system that produced three PacWest Academic Achievement Awards under his guidance. He also oversaw the office renovation for administrative and coach's office spaces in the Conlan Center in 2019-20. He provided leadership to the department in chairing its Return to Play committee to help the Penguins get back onto the court and field during the COVID-19 pandemic.