Union College Athletics

"When you are through learning, you are through."
- John Wooden

"The Union Athletics Faculty Mentor Program was established to strengthen the relationship and enhance communication between faculty, coaches and students. Our Department's priority has and always will be to ensure the academic success of our student-athletes. We believe that participation in intercollegiate athletics is a complement to the overall academic mission of the College, not something that it is in conflict with. This program will provide students with additional support in dealing with some of the challenges that they encounter on our campus as well as provide valuable mentoring opportunities outside of the classroom. This program will also provide faculty with a deeper understanding of the students' participation in athletics, the values of the Department and the passion our students display for both their academic and athletic pursuits."
- Jim McLaughlin '93, Director of Athletics

Benefits for Faculty

• Making a significant impact on the academic development of the student-athlete.
• Generating opportunities outside of the classroom for informal discussions on curriculum.
• Assisting in creating meaningful relationships with student-athletes.
• Access to a group of individuals willing to assist in events on campus such as attending speakers, service projects, etc.
• A welcome to the sideline during games and practices.
• Invitations to team functions, barbecues, and banquets.
• Inclusion on the team roster.
• Travel with teams to selected road games (if desired).
• Team apparel.

Benefits to Coaches and Student-Athletes

• Providing coaches with an additional resource to help advise student-athletes.
• Serving as another mentor for student-athletes to seek out advice.
• Assisting in creating meaningful relationships with faculty.
• Meeting prospective student-athletes during the recruiting process and on-campus visits.
• Additional faculty oversight of student-athletes' academic progress.
• Access to another counselor who can give input to the well being of the student-athlete.

Sports

• Baseball - TBD
• Men's Basketball - Zach Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Economics
• Women's Basketball - Josh Hart, Professor of Psychology
• Men's Crew - TBD
• Women's Crew - Louisa Matthew, Professor of Art History
• Men's and Women's Cross Country / Track & Field - Kristin Fox, Florence B. Sherwood Professor of Physical Sciences
• Field Hockey - Jennifer Currey. Associate Professor of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering
• Flag Football - TBD
• Football - Bradley Lewis, Professor of Economics
• Women's Golf - Ken Aslakson, Associate Professor of History
• Men's Ice Hockey - Stephen Schmidt, Kenneth B. Sharpe Professor of Economics
• Women's Ice Hockey - Brian Cohen, Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences
• Men's Lacrosse - Ken Aslakson, Associate Professor of History; Brad Hays, Associate Professor of Political Science
• Women's Lacrosse - TBD
• Men's Soccer - TBD
• Women's Soccer - TBD
• Softball - Brian Cohen, Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences
• Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving - Kate Feller, John D. MacArthur Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences; Chris Whitehead, John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Assistant Professor of Chemistry
• Men's Tennis - Donald T. Rodbell, Jane and John Wold Professor of Geology
• Women's Tennis - Ellen Robertson, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Volleyball - Mercedes Mayna-Medrano, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Page updated 6/15/26