Speaker: Paul Vecchio, Executive Director of Athletics, Hartwick College
Paul Vecchio, Executive Director for Athletics Hartwick College discussed the importance of Division III athletics for long term health of small colleges at the January 9 weekly meeting.
According to Paul Vecchio, new Executive Director for Athletics, Hartwick College, Division III athletics may be the last hope for student education and athletics to exist together. The challenges include declining enrollment, costs, and return on investment. Hartwick College is in the “murky middle”, i.e, in the shadow of Ivy League schools in the Northeast. The opportunities include: the 3 P’s of Athletics-prestige, pride and pathways to new revenue. Vecchio shared two examples of small schools, St. John Fisher and Utica College, that used athletics to revive their schools. Conflict surrounding college athletics is a concern for the mission of college-education vs. athletics. The prestige and pride brought by athletics can increase enrollment but must be done with fiscal responsibility to avoid failure. Vecchio shared his first-hand successful experience with a $30 million investment in Alfred University Athletics. He hopes to “Soar with Hawks” at Hartwick with added ladies flag football and volleyball.