Hood College Athletics: A Comprehensive Overview
Hood College provides a robust athletics program that significantly contributes to the overall educational experience of its students. With a wide array of sports, excellent facilities, and a commitment to developing well-rounded individuals, Hood College athletics aims to foster success both on the field and in the classroom. Hood College athletes excel on the field and in the classroom.
Expansion and Facilities
Over the past several years, Hood College has seen a dramatic expansion of its sports programming. This growth has been significantly supported by the development of top-notch athletic facilities. The completion of the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center in 2011 marked a turning point. This 41,000-square-foot multipurpose facility includes the 1,600-seat BB&T Arena and the two-story Hodson Fitness Center. This space is complemented by the adjacent Hood Softball Field and the Thomas Athletic Field, not to mention the Huntsinger Aquatics Center and Hood Tennis Complex.
Sports Programs and NCAA Division III
Alongside these fabulous amenities, Hood now offers 24 unique sports programs, from basketball and soccer to golf and esports. The Blazers are part of the highly competitive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division III. Hood College athletics are designed to contribute to the student’s overall educational experience. The athletic department at Hood College is proud to adhere to the philosophy of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division III. Each year Hood athletes enter the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) to play dozens of matches against a variety of regional private, nonprofit colleges and universities. Hood College is a member of the Middle Atlantic Conferences, competing in the MAC Commonwealth. The MAC sponsors 27 conference sports that include student-athletes from 18 schools spanning two leagues - the MAC Commonwealth and the MAC Freedom. Teams such as cross country, women’s golf, swimming, and track and field will compete against all MAC institutions. Those interested in women’s intercollegiate competition can compete in basketball, cross country, esports, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. Men’s intercollegiate sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, esports, golf, swimming, soccer, lacrosse, indoor and outdoor track and field, and tennis.
The MAC Freedom is comprised of Arcadia University, Delaware Valley College, DeSales University, Florham Campus - Fairleigh Dickinson University, Kings College, Lycoming College, Misericordia University, Stevens Institute of Technology and Wilkes University. The MAC Freedom is comprised of Arcadia University, Delaware Valley University, DeSales University, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, Kings College, Lebanon Valley College, Misericordia University, and Stevens Institute of Technology.
Leadership and Growth
Part of the Blazers’ success is in no small part due to the efforts of Susan Kolb, Ph.D., who has served as Hood’s director of athletics since July 2018. Growing up in small-town Pennsylvania, Kolb was herself a voracious athlete. After graduating from Davis & Elkins College, she got her start as an assistant coach at Bluffton University, where she also earned a master’s degree in instructional leadership. From there, she became a head coach at Eastern Mennonite University. She transitioned to athletic administration, working for George Mason University and the University of South Carolina Upstate before coming to Hood.
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When Kolb first started, there were 270 student-athletes at Hood. Today, there are 415. “I'm just encouraged by our student-athletes and our staff who work so hard. I truly think we have the opportunity to be more successful than what we have been in the MAC conference. We have a lot of the right pieces. It's putting them in the right place at the right time,” says Kolb.
One of her goals is to see the Blazers boost their competitive edge. “I think that we’ve made so much progress in three years of just equipping our staff with the right tools to be successful, putting the right people in the seats that we have here and just trying to change the culture of the student-athletes-getting them to understand this competitive side that had been missing for some time.”
Comprehensive Support System
This means offering a comprehensive support system for student-athletes. In the offseason, a strength and conditioning coach works to keep the Blazers fit. But an able body is only as strong as its mind. That’s why a sports psychologist is available for counseling students year-round. This is all in addition to a diverse group of coaches, assistant coaches and graduate assistants. Four full-time certified athletic trainers and three certified strength and conditioning coaches work with athletes and coaches in all phases of sports performance including off-season and in-season strength and conditioning. There are also 33 assitant coaches of sports at Hood.
Academic Integration
Academic support is another major factor in ensuring our student-athletes are succeeding in the classroom as well as on the field. GPA and degree progress requirements hold the Blazers to a high standard. Meanwhile, study hall and tutoring allow for ample time to be spent on schoolwork. “My biggest motto is developing the athlete, the student and the person,” says Kolb. “Whether that can be financial literacy and leadership or diversity and equity training, we make sure that we're hitting in the areas that we feel would be best. We definitely monitor the academic side as much as we do the athletic side.” To be eligible to participate in intercollegiate sports, a student must be enrolled for at least 12 credits, be in good academic standing and, beginning with their sophomore year maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
There’s a surprising amount of overlap between athletics and academics. Playing sports can instill a sense of discipline-doing homework is akin to doing drills. Student-athletes are also experts when it comes to time management. Juggling practices, games, classes and more requires careful planning and follow-through. On the flip side, student-athletes transfer skills picked up in the classroom, such as processing information, creative problem solving and critical thinking. Not to mention all the math necessary for timing and calculating exercises, the food chemistry of maintaining a proper diet, and the physics of planning and executing plays.
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Thomas Kasanicky, an undergrad public health major who runs cross country and track and field, sees these benefits as also shaping his character. “Being an athlete helps me in the classroom by making me not accept failure. I push and work hard not to fail classes and tests. When I do fail, I go and talk to my teachers like they were a coach and ask how to improve,” says Kasanicky. “I think a lot about schoolwork on runs and try to apply it to life. I think about what I can do to help others when running by places and seeing where I could improve the community when I join the workforce.” The intercollegiate athletic program at Hood College complements and enhances the learning experience inherent in a liberal arts education. The program provides the opportunity for athletes to excel physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The college helps student-athletes strive for success and build a strong foundation for winning, learning, and growing socially.
Inclusivity and Opportunities
Although most of our student-athletes are actively recruited by coaches, everyone is welcome to get involved. There are numerous recreational intramural sports offerings for casual players, as well as an equestrian club for horseback riding. If you’re interested in trying out for a team, simply contact one of our coaches. Kolb also hopes to see more students, faculty and staff coming out to support the Blazers at any number of home field games. Find your team.
Financial Aspects
The average salary of the men’s team head coaches is $54,396, while the head coaches of women’s team make, on average, $43,661 per year. That’s not a profit, but then again, it’s not a loss either. The net profit or loss can vary with each sport. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even. So, the program broke even.
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