EDISON, NJ (Sept. 29, 2026) – Metro Conference Commissioner Travis Tellitocci announced Tuesday the promotion of AJ Schaufler to senior associate commissioner, regulatory affairs and leadership development, effective immediately.
“AJ has made a significant impact on the Metro Conference since joining our staff and has transformed both our NCAA compliance efforts and our leadership development initiatives for student-athletes and coaches,” said Tellitocci. “He has strengthened the resources and support we provide our member institutions while creating new opportunities for our student-athletes to have a meaningful voice within the Conference and at the national level. As college athletics continues to evolve, AJ has also taken on an increasingly important role in the areas of governance, revenue sharing, and name, image, and likeness. This promotion reflects both the impact AJ has made and the important role he will continue to play for the future of the Metro.”
Prior to his promotion, Schaufler joined the Metro in October 2024 as associate commissioner, compliance, and student-athlete development. In that role, Schaufler was responsible for overseeing all aspects of NCAA compliance, conference governance, and student-athlete development.
He works directly with conference membership compliance staffs, senior woman administrators, and athletics directors as a resource for all NCAA compliance, governance and liaises with the Conference’s outside counsel regarding legal matters. Schaufler serves as the conference liaison to all campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives and administrators as well as faculty athletic representatives, athletic trainers, and academic administrators in conjunction with the Metro's student-athlete development efforts and initiatives. Schaufler also administers the Conference’s revenue sharing and name, image, and likeness reporting.
During his tenure, Schaufler has helped lift the voice of Metro student-athletes, facilitating national committee appointments on the NCAA Division I Cabinet and Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee.
Schaufler was also instrumental in attaining the Knight Commission’s C.A.R.E Model grant, now in its third year, which allowed the Conference to host its first-ever Assistant Coach Academy, which he led. 25 assistant coaches participated in the inaugural edition.
A former men’s lacrosse student-athlete at Metro member Mount St. Mary’s, Schaufler joined the Conference by way of Syracuse where he served as the Orange’s associate athletic director, compliance, primarily responsible for day-to-day Syracuse football compliance operations, in addition to work with men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and other programs.
Schaufler and his wife Alexandra reside in Neptune City, New Jersey, with their twin boys, Albert and James.