Middlebury Names New Athletic Director

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students, 

I write to share the exciting news that Todd P. Phelps will be our next director of Athletics, effective July 1.

Todd joins Middlebury from North Dakota State University, where he has served as deputy director of Athletics since 2015, helping guide a successful Division I athletics program. He brings three decades of experience in intercollegiate athletics, with leadership roles at several of the nation’s top Division I programs, including Oregon State, Stony Brook, Brown, and Yale Universities.

Todd has deep ties to the community, having graduated from Middlebury Union High School in 1991 before attending Ithaca College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1995. He returned home to begin his career in college athletics at Middlebury, where he served as an assistant coach for men’s basketball from 1995 to 2001 and as a women’s volleyball assistant coach for the 1995 and 1996 seasons. He also served as athletics facilities and operations coordinator during his final three years.

Todd’s experience over the next 25 years at some of the nation’s top academic institutions, as well as with major Division I athletics programs, was especially appealing to the search committee, which emphasized the importance of finding a leader who understands the critical role athletics plays within a liberal arts education.

Todd will provide a strategic vision for athletics while overseeing all operations, including the management and supervision of head coaches and administrative and support staff. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to the student-athlete experience and to collaborating with faculty and staff to help students balance athletics with academic success in a rigorous academic environment. Todd succeeds Erin Quinn ’86, who is retiring after 36 years of service, including 20 as athletic director.

Todd expressed how meaningful it is to return to his hometown, where his career in college athletics began, and to join an institution whose values and commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes align with his own.

I would like to thank the search committee co-chairs Bob Ritter ’82, assistant director of Athletics, and Katharine DeLorenzo, assistant director of Athletics, senior woman administrator, and head field hockey coach, as well as the following committee members for their time and commitment throughout this process: Jeremy Ward, vice president for Academic Affairs and Albert D. Mead Professor of Biology; Matthew Kimble, professor of psychology and director of the PSYC Thesis Program; Jami Black, associate vice president forAdvancementand campaign operations and campaign co-executive director; Nicole Curvin, vice president of strategic enrollment and dean of Admissions; Derek Doucet, associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students; Doug Mandigo ’96, head football coach; Sarah Raunecker ’92, head women’s volleyball coach; Anne Peterson ’85, trustee; and Jon Owsley ’92.

I also want to thank the staff, coaches, faculty, students, and alumni who shared thoughtful input during the search.

Please join me in welcoming Todd and his wife, Nancy, back to Middlebury. We look forward to the leadership, experience, and energy he will bring to the College.

Sincerely,

Ian Baucom
President