Longtime Director of Athletics Erin Quinn '86 will retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, President Ian Baucom announced on January 8. Quinn completes his 20th year at the helm of the Middlebury College Department of Athletics, following 15 years as the head coach of the men's lacrosse team.
"This is bittersweet news," said Baucom. "Erin has been a pillar of Middlebury and a steady and engaged national leader in college athletics for the past three decades, with a strong focus on building a vibrant culture, driven by excellence, grounded in shared values, always focused on the best for our students."
During his tenure as the Athletic Director, Quinn has celebrated 19 NCAA team championships, 69 NESCAC team titles, and 29 NCAA individual champions, including one in the fall of 2025. In 2012, Middlebury won the esteemed Learfield Directors' Cup, and has placed in the top 10 every year during his career. He was named the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Division III Athletic Director of the Year in 2021.
Baucom recognized Quinn for leading with vision, humility, and passion throughout his career, first as Middlebury's head men's lacrosse coach for 15 years, then for the past 20 years as director of Athletics. Often called "an AD for the coaches," Quinn has advocated for—and fundraised to endow—15 positions, many of which are full-time. Since 2019, Quinn has also worked closely with the College Advancement Office on fundraising including the annual Panther Challenge, which broke records for both the number of donors and money raised. He has also worked continuously to improve and enhance athletic facilities, most significantly overseeing a comprehensive renovation of the 18,000 square-foot Bostwick Family Squash Center, construction of the 110,000 square-foot Virtue Field House, and significant upgrades to the Baseball and Softball Complex, Peter Kohn Field, South Street Field, and Youngman Field as well as the addition of a 12-court outdoor tennis facility. In 2014, Quinn played a vital role in establishing the Middlebury Athletics Hall of Fame to honor the College's long tradition of athletic excellence.
As the head men's lacrosse coach, Quinn led the team to three straight NCAA Championships (2000, 2001, 2002) and six NESCAC titles. He finished with an impressive 202-38 record and was inducted into the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2003. In 1996, Quinn and other members of the Middlebury men's lacrosse community attended the first edition of the annual Vail Lacrosse Shootout. This summer, the group celebrates the 30th anniversary of the program. From June through July each summer, hundreds of men and women compete in the prestigious multi-division tournament with both youth and adult teams.
A football captain in his senior year, Quinn graduated from Middlebury College in 1986 and served for one year as an assistant in both football and men's lacrosse. He worked in a similar dual role at Tufts from 1987-1989 before landing his first head coaching job with the men's lacrosse program at Lake Forest College in 1989. Following one season, Quinn returned to his alma mater in 1990 as a two-sport assistant before being named the head men's lacrosse coach in 1992.
With all of his accomplishments, Quinn said he is most proud of the relationships he's cultivated throughout his career.
"I've been fortunate to work with an amazing group of coaches, staff and administrators who value creating a healthy, positive and aspirational culture here at Middlebury," he said. "Our work as a department would not be possible without the relationships with our campus partners, community members, parents, alumni, and fantastic NESCAC colleagues. All of these people have played pivotal roles in our athletic success, and our ability to enhance the student-athlete experience."
Quinn plans to remain in Middlebury upon retirement, and is looking forward to spending time with his wife, Pam '88, and children Hannah '16 and Connor '20, and Connor's fiancée Eliza Smallwood '20. He expects to continue to be a fixture on the sidelines at Panther contests.
"I am really proud of what we've accomplished during my tenure, and am excited for what is next for Middlebury Athletics and the College under President Ian Baucom's leadership," Quinn said. "I've had an incredible experience as the director of Athletics at Middlebury, and am looking forward to staying connected with our community."
The College has begun working on a transition plan for Athletics for the coming months and will share more information about a search as it becomes available.
