The first Director of Athletics at Saint Joseph’s College’s first Director of Athletics, Kiernan arrived at Saint Joseph's in 1970 and served, during his ten-year stay, as Director of Athletics, Director of Continuing Education, Dean of Students, Director of Financial Aid, and Director of Admissions

Responsible for breathing life into the men's basketball program, having obtained the first Monks uniforms and serving as the head coach for the team’s first eight seasons (1972-79)