Colby-Sawyer Names Mitch Capelle as Director of Athletics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of Colby-Sawyer Athletics Communications

NEW LONDON, N.H. – Colby-Sawyer College Vice President for Student Development & Dean of Students Robin Burroughs Davis has announced the hiring of Mitch Capelle as the college's next Director of Athletics.

Capelle comes to Colby-Sawyer from nearby Manchester, N.H. where he currently serves as the Associate Athletic Director at Saint Anselm College.

"I am very pleased to welcome Mitch Capelle back to Colby-Sawyer College," said Davis. "We are fortunate to have a strong team of coaches and administrators and have seen great success in our athletic conferences. Under Mitch's leadership we will capitalize on our successes and continue to grow and develop scholar-athletes. Athletics is such an important part of the Charger experience contributing to our sense of place and transformative education for our student-athletes. I look forward to working with Mitch to enhance partnerships within Student Development and across the college as well as with alumni."

"I would like to thank President Stuebner, Vice President Davis and the search committee for this opportunity," said Capelle. "To be able to return to Colby-Sawyer and serve as Director of Athletics is a tremendous privilege. Over the next few weeks, months and years we will work hard each day to positively impact our student-athletes. We will collaborate with faculty, staff, students and supporters to continue the mission of helping our students be successful."

At Saint Anselm, Capelle was a member of the department's senior leadership team and oversaw external relations, athletic communications, marketing and branding for all 17 of the college's NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports and more than 450 student-athletes.

Capelle led several key initiatives that have resulted in increased revenue for the college. In 2017-18, in conjunction with the renovation of a Student-Athlete Academic Success Center, Capelle led a philanthropic effort that resulted in 100% student-athlete participation. He also coordinated the department's inaugural Athletics Days of Giving fundraising effort, which resulted in 1,880 donors and more than $110,000 raised over the two-day campaign. He also negotiated the college's first-ever licensing agreement with Exemplar Associates and serves as the institution's lead for formal licensing, branding and trademark approvals. Capelle also assisted in the launch of the department's annual giving program, the Hawks Soar Higher Club, which included a comprehensive direct mail solicitation to 7,500 former student-athletes and current donors to the athletic department.

In 2018, Capelle assisted with the RFP for a new apparel and equipment provider that resulted in the college signing a multi-year agreement with Under Armour and BSN Sports. He was also instrumental in the launch of the department's first e-commerce platform with Follett and Advanced Online (SaintAnselmSidelineStore.com).

Prior to Saint Anselm, Capelle was the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at UW-Stevens Point for eight years.

Capelle was Colby-Sawyer's Sports Information Director from 2006-08.

Capelle holds a B.A. in political science from Wisconsin Lutheran College and a M.S. in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and previously served on the New Media/Technology Committee. He was also a member of the NCAA Division III Technology Users Group and serves on the Northeast-10's ad hoc committee to develop a digital streaming network and broadcast standards.

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