In Memoriam: Tom Lawson

Tom Lawson, a beloved Middlebury College coach and athletic director credited with building the athletic program into one of the most successful in the country, died in Middlebury on August 20, 2024.

During his almost 30 years at the College, starting in 1969, Lawson became known as a staunch advocate for the advancement of women’s athletics in support of Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972. He greatly increased participation among women in athletics, leading efforts to add seven women’s intercollegiate sports during his tenure. He is also credited with helping start one of the first women’s Division III ice hockey leagues in the nation.

Lawson, who was athletic director from 1977 to 1996, was described as a visionary by colleagues and fellow athletic directors when it came to the addition of state-of-the-art athletic facilities. Under his leadership, Middlebury added new venues for football, field hockey, soccer, ice hockey, swimming, lacrosse, and track and field, while greatly enhancing existing facilities. He is credited with advocating for these upgrades, coupled with the addition of new athletic programs, key coaching hires, and the recruitment of top student-athletes, all of which ushered in a new era of success for Middlebury athletics.

Current Athletic Director Erin Quinn ’86, who is married to Lawson’s daughter, Pam Quinn ’88, said his father-in-law was “responsible for bridging the gap into the modern era with gender equity; for the excellence of our teams across the department; and for building the program on strong values,” which persists to this day. 

“While the success of our teams and our impressive facilities are visible examples of his legacy, it is the culture of Middlebury athletics that Tom cultivated that is his most enduring legacy,” Quinn said. “I am grateful and blessed to have benefited from his leadership while a student-athlete and coach, and as a fellow athletic director, and to have shared a life together as a family member. He is Coach Lawson, AD Lawson, but also husband, father, father-in-law, and grandpa, and his values, integrity, and love are consistent in all of those roles.”

Born on May 17, 1937, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Lawson attended St. Johnsbury Academy and the University of Vermont before receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1961 from Springfield College. He arrived at Middlebury eight years later as the men’s soccer coach and became the men’s basketball coach the following year. His soccer teams posted a record of 49-26-8 in eight years, including benchmark seasons in 1972 (9-0-1) and 1973 (11-0-1). Lawson was named the 1972 New England Coach of the Year in the University Division. 

In basketball, Lawson won more than 100 games, including a record 17-win season in 1974–75, resulting in the College’s first postseason bid. He was named to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, and in 2007, received the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s highest honor—the James Lynah Award for distinguished achievement. He was inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Lawson was married to Phyllis Ann (McKee) Lawson for 64 years until her death in April of 2023. They married a few years after meeting at St. Johnsbury Academy and raised four children together. Lawson’s daughter Pam recalls running around the field house and watching her dad coach soccer and basketball when they moved to Middlebury when she was two years old. One of her favorite photos shows her as a senior at Middlebury College, where she played field hockey, wearing a cap and gown with her field hockey stick and dad by her side. 

“Dad frequently talked about how he decided on new coaches who would join his staff,” said Pam, whose daughter Hannah ’16 and son Connor ’20 also attended Middlebury. “He knew coaching tactics could be developed, so he looked more at their character and heart and how they would impact student-athletes and colleagues. He loved Middlebury athletics for decades and was involved long after retirement.”

Pam said the captains of the men’s soccer team visited her father last fall in his assisted living facility and brought him a signed team photo and some gear. “They talked about soccer and my dad lit up with joy. That visit exemplified all that my dad hoped for in an athletics program: coach the sport well, and coach the player to be a better person for the good of the team and the community.” 

Sarah Raunecker ’92, head women’s volleyball coach and director of physical education, was hired by Lawson to coach the newly launched women’s volleyball team in the mid-1990s, despite having little experience.

“He ended up hiring me the second year to take over the program even though I was young and unqualified on paper,” said Raunecker. “His unwavering belief in me as a person, and in my abilities to figure out how to be successful, dictated the course of my life. I don’t know if anyone else has ever shown that level of confidence in me and my abilities. It shaped who I became professionally.”

Prior to his tenure at Middlebury, Lawson was one of the state’s top high school soccer and basketball coaches. After starting his career at Craftsbury Academy, he moved to Proctor High School, where he coached the boys’ soccer team to a 52-game winning streak and four state championships. His boys’ basketball teams won three state titles in his final four years as head coach. 

“Tom was a thoughtful, dedicated, and loyal man,” recalled Bill Mandigo, women’s ice hockey coach since 1988. “TL loved Middlebury and all that it stood for. He hired me and was my boss, yet I always felt I worked with him, not for him. He constantly checked on me to make sure my family and I were doing well. He became a mentor and a close friend. Even after TL retired, he continued to check to make sure everything was okay.”

A service for Lawson will be at the Congregational Church of Middlebury on Friday, September 13, at 1 p.m.