After serving 11 years in the athletics department at Division-I Manhattan College, Lenny Kaplan was appointed in August 2000 to NJIT's newly-created position of senior administrator for athletics, physical education, recreation and intramurals. He assumed the duties of director of athletics shortly thereafter. 

Kaplan is a 1988 graduate of St. John's University with a degree in athletics administration. After three years as Manhattan's director of operations, he served as an assistant athletics director from 1991-2000. He is a member of the NCAA Division II nominating committee, the D-II Women's Soccer Regional Advisory Committee, and the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Executive Committee.  

Kaplan resides in Merrick, New York, with his wife, Nancy, and their sons, Michael and Joshua.