Jason Fein will step down as Bates College director of athletics on Dec. 31, 2024.
“Jason’s tenure at Bates has been marked by significant improvements to our athletics program and major achievements by our teams and their coaches,” said Bates President Garry W. Jenkins.
“His commitment to our student-athletes has enhanced student success and heightened the pride we all feel in our college through the success of our Bobcats. On behalf of Bates College, I express our thanks for his dedicated service and I look forward to a bright future for Bates Athletics that builds upon his legacy.”
“It has been an incredible privilege to serve as the director of athletics at Bates College,” said Fein. “Working alongside and advocating for our exceptional student-athletes, coaches, and staff has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It’s been a challenging year personally, and while this decision was certainly not an easy one, it is the right time for me to focus on my family. I am immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished and I look forward to supporting the program’s continued success.”
As director of athletics since 2017, Fein has led a program that comprises 31 varsity sports, 13 competitive club sports, and nearly a dozen intramural athletic leagues. He has overseen the development and execution of a long-term strategic vision for Bates Athletics while managing day-to-day operations and serving as a persuasive advocate for the needs of Bates student-athletes, coaches, and staff, including a number of key facilities improvements.
Under his leadership, Bates Athletics expanded its team-based programs that engage the Lewiston-Auburn community, including service projects, youth clinics and camps, fan engagement, and mentorship and role modeling. He facilitated the creation of Bates Athletics student groups focused on social justice, equity, and inclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jason Fein and his team helped provide operational support that was essential to the college’s ability to maintain a strong and effective residential experience.
A highly regarded leader nationally in collegiate athletics, Fein was named a Division III Athletic Director of the Year in 2020–21 by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the second time he was a recipient of the national award. The 2020–21 award recognized his leadership at Bates in an unprecedented year, including the feat of pivoting operations to support the college’s pandemic response while also maintaining the Bobcat team identities and structures so fundamental to Bates student-athletes.
In 2021, Fein was elected chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council and member of the NCAA Board of Governors. He has served as a member of the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, the NCAA Championships Committee, and the NCAA Interpretations and Legislation Committee. He served a three-year term on the executive board of MOAA, the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association, which provides opportunities to exchange ideas, advocate for increased participation, and support administrative opportunities for underrepresented groups in athletics.
During Fein’s tenure, Bates Athletics teams achieved three NCAA national championships and seven NESCAC titles, including the first NESCAC championship for women’s basketball in 2021–22. He also oversaw several high-impact facility improvements, including a major renovation of Russell Street Track and Field, enhancements to historic Alumni Gymnasium, and expansion of sports medicine spaces. In addition, the college is moving forward with plans for a new Fitness and Well-Being Center to increase fitness space on campus and improve varsity locker rooms and coaches’ offices.
“I’ve enjoyed watching our student-athletes achieve personal bests, win championships, and learn from their setbacks,” Fein said. “Their passion and perseverance has been inspirational, and I will still watch and cheer them on as they continue their journeys. It will always be a Great Day to Be a Bobcat, and I hope that folks know just how meaningful those words were, and always will be, to me.”
In the coming weeks, plans for interim leadership and the search for the college’s next director of athletics will be announced.
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