After almost two decades leading the Hamilton College athletic department, Director of Athletics Jon Hind '80 has announced his retirement effective April 30.
 
Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator Deidre Pierson has accepted the role of interim director of athletics while a nationwide search for Hind's replacement is conducted.
 
"It has been an honor and a privilege to come up the Hill every day and enhance the experience of our student-athletes," Hind said. "I would like to thank past and current senior administrations and our coaching staff for all the confidence they have placed in me throughout the years."
 
During Hind's tenure, which began in the summer of 2007, the women's lacrosse team captured the first NCAA team championship in Hamilton athletic department history. Athletes from the men's track & field, men's cross country and women's swimming and diving teams have collected a number of individual national titles. Ten teams have competed in the NCAA championship since Hind returned to his alma mater. Men's soccer, men's hockey and men's basketball made NCAA appearances during the 2024-25 academic year, and women's hockey reached the 2023 semifinals.
 
Hind led the department as the Continentals' athletic programs became fully integrated in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) for the 2011-12 academic year. Men's hockey (2025), men's basketball (2024) and men's golf (2022) recently captured NESCAC titles.
 
"You have built exactly the environment that every college should aspire to -- collaborative, caring, and passionate," Hamilton President Steven Tepper said. "You are leaving a legacy here."
 
Hind has served as the chairperson and been a member of the NCAA men's lacrosse championship and rules committees. He was the head men's lacrosse coach at The College of Wooster for five seasons and at Butler University for another seven. Hind was Butler's coach for the team's inaugural lacrosse season in 1993 and was named 1998 Division I Coach of the Year by the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association after guiding the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament. He left coaching to become an athletic administrator in 1999 and served as Butler's associate athletic director for operations before he returned to Hamilton.
 
"Jon has been an instrumental and inspirational mentor to have," Pierson said. "The depth of his experience in intercollegiate athletics is extensive, and his willingness to mentor those around him is one of his many admirable qualities. Jon has left an indelible mark on Hamilton Athletics, and I wish him a well-deserved retirement."
 
Nearly all the College's athletic facilities have been upgraded under his leadership including new facilities for baseball and softball (Loop Road Athletic Complex), field hockey (Goodfriend Field) and men's and women's tennis (Tietje Family Tennis Center). He has overseen the construction of the Jason P. Andris Boathouse, the Bob Simon Golf Center, the Henry W. Harding Field House -- a large indoor practice facility with artificial grass and a state-of-the-art batting cage -- and the addition of new locker rooms in the Delaney Team Center.
 
Many existing facilites have been upgraded since Hind arrived at Hamilton. Steuben Field and Withiam Field replaced their surfaces with artificial grass, and in 2019 Love Field received a new natural grass surface and drainage. Margaret Bundy Scott Field House has refurbished seating for basketball and volleyball and the indoor track was resurfaced. Alumni Gym underwent extensive renovation during the summer of 2019. Bristol Pool went through a $12.8 million renovation from March 2022 to February 2023. Russell Sage Rink is currently undergoing exciting updates thanks to a $13 million investment by the College, alumni and the Board of Trustees.
 
Hind was a four-year letter winner and two-time captain as a defenseman on the Hamilton lacrosse team. He won the department's Jean-Marius Gelas Memorial Award, which is presented annually to a male and female senior student-athlete who has displayed outstanding development in sportsmanship, leadership, character and athletic ability during their college years.