Investments and changes to the athletics program
President Danielle R. Holley writes to the community with updates about Mount Holyoke College's athletics programs.
May 13, 2024
Dear members of the Mount Holyoke campus community,
I am writing today with updates about Mount Holyoke College’s athletics programs. When I arrived at the College last summer, I knew about Mount Holyoke’s history and strength in physical education and athletics. Our holistic program already contributes significantly to learning goals, leadership development and campus engagement; recent highlights include:
- Our most recent Rhodes Scholar and two 2024 Fulbright finalists are varsity athletes.
- The Western riding team competed in the Nationals for the first time in its 16-year history.
- Track and field had a banner year that culminated with MHC hosting the New England Division III Championships where they broke three school records and finished with the most points since 2006.
- Mount Holyoke’s ultimate frisbee club team, Daisy Chain, will compete in national championships later this month.
- A refurbished Lyons Den — our strength and conditioning facility — opened this fall.
- Our award-winning Be Well program — healthy mind, healthy body, healthy community and healthy life — continues to serve as the College’s commitment to and framework for holistic wellness for all students. The athletics program, coaches and staff are an integral part of this commitment.
Shortly following my arrival, I also came to understand the incredible potential for our program to be stronger than ever before. For this reason, in fall 2023 I commissioned a study to evaluate ways to increase competitiveness with an appropriately sized varsity sports program that aligns with both the College’s goals and requirements of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and other conferences in which MHC participates. This project is built on previous self studies and program reviews, and coincides with the College’s next strategic plan (which will be in place for fall 2024).
After careful consideration of the key findings, I determined a path forward which was recently endorsed by the Mount Holyoke College Board of Trustees. I am pleased to affirm that the College will remain a proud member of NEWMAC and will make significant investments to sustain a competitive and productive DIII program. Each investment is made possible through donor support, reallocation of operating funds achieved through reorganization and/or support from the College’s capital renewal allocations.
Beginning in academic year 2024–2025 we will:
- Launch a $6M redesign and renovation of the Kendall Complex gym and locker rooms.
- Further invest in equipment renewal and enhance the overall student-athlete experience, at home and on the road.
- Hire full-time assistant coaches for all NCAA varsity athletics teams. This investment will build capacity to boost external recruitment strategies and improve the overall competitiveness of our teams.
- Introduce a JV rowing team.
- Significantly increase annual funding available for coaches to engage in player recruitment activities.
- Further invest in athletics-focused branding and marketing, alum engagement and giving.
- Provide additional support for intercollegiate club sports and their annual competitive success, both regionally and nationally.
In addition to these changes, Mount Holyoke College will move squash to a club sport and will no longer sponsor a tennis program. Student players and coaching staff most directly impacted by these changes have been notified, and we will work with them to ensure a smooth transition. I want to acknowledge the students, coaches, alums and families who have been involved with tennis at Mount Holyoke over the years; I celebrate the positive impact you have made to our community and to our scholar-athletes at the College.
We have prepared FAQs, and will be meeting with our campus staff, coaches, students and NEWMAC partners in the coming days to address remaining questions. I am deeply grateful to the many individuals who contributed to bringing this study and its findings to conclusion, including our new Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education Andrea Ricketts-Preston, and Vice President Marcella Runell whose staunch advocacy for and commitment to our athletics program, students and staff has made all the difference.
Sincerely,
Danielle R. Holley
President