REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
ATHLETICS
DONOR REPORT
FY2024
A CONVERSATION WITH MIKE LYNCH
As the 2023-2024 academic year came to a close, we sat down with Mike Lynch, Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement, for his insights on how donors have shaped our successes.
Between team successes and the launch of the Champions Forever campaign, this has been an eventful year for Babson Athletics. What have been some highlights for you?
Mike: The teams and the campaign seemed to work in parallel this year. We had two significant gifts happen relatively soon after announcing the campaign—for men’s soccer and the golf programs. And that was happening in parallel with our teams having an incredible stretch of success across the entire year. In my mind, it’s an amazing jumping off point for the campaign. We saw people stepping up to invest in our programs, and it felt like that ethos was transmitting through our programs too— like both things were feeding off each other at the same time.
Is this part of a longer trend? During your time here, have you seen donor support playing an active role in our increased success?
Mike: No question about that. If you look at donor support over the years, the more that people have invested the better our teams have gotten.
One thing Julie Ryan talks about in this report is how her teams’ past successes (like making it to the Final Four back in 2016) used to feel more surprising than they do now—because they have the combination of resources plus consistently putting in the work to make it happen. Is this something you’re seeing throughout Babson Athletics?
Mike: Yes—it’s not a given by any means, and they all work really hard. But because of the investment of our contributors, our teams have been able to do things that they weren’t able to do 10 years ago. Back then, most teams weren’t routinely traveling out of region to play the best teams in the country during the regular season. So even if they made the tournament, they may not have had the experience necessary to compete against the best teams. Now the vast majority of our teams are traveling and playing very challenging schedules, and they have the tools they need to be successful on the national level. And that’s pretty special.
More broadly, how do you see your successes fitting into the bigger picture of Babson as a whole?
Mike: Most of the young people we have here are making the choice to play at Babson because of the education. So excelling athletically is only one piece of what we’re trying to provide our student-athletes. We’re also trying to provide an opportunity to get the very best education they can, as well as to have an impact in the community. That’s the experience we’re investing in here.
YOUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS
3,351 DONORS COMMITTED $2,461,011
$2.16 MILLION committed to our varsity teams and clubs sets them up for success with coaching, travel, and equipment funding.
BAREFOOT ATHLETICS CHALLENGE 2024 CHAMPIONS THEN, CHAMPIONS NOW
The 11th annual Barefoot Athletics Challenge was a resounding success, with our highest-ever number of donors and gifts supporting Babson’s student-athletes.
Celebrating the legacy of past team members who have paved the way for our current successes, Barefoot supporters competed to show their team pride and unlock challenge funds. Together, all donors made a major impact on the entire program, funding new equipment, travel, coach salaries, and much more.
Established by former Babson President Brian Barefoot ’66, H’09, P’01 and Pamela Barefoot, the annual challenge encourages alumni, parents, and fans to support Babson’s athletics program and student-athletes.
2,048 DONORS $309,334 RAISED
TOP TEAMS:
PARTICIPATION
1. Men’s Ice Hockey (2024 Challenge Winner)
Field Hockey
Men’s Basketball DOLLARS RAISED
1. Men’s Ice Hockey 2. Men’s Lacrosse
3. Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving
“The way we’ve connected members of our volleyball family across many years and teams has been incredible. We had great alumni attendance at matches this year, and our annual spring alumni match was the most successful ever. It’s great to see the current student-athletes interacting and forming connections with alumni who did so much to lay the foundation for our current success. I can’t wait to build on all of that next year leading into our 50th anniversary in 2025!”
Eric Neely WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
“Women’s soccer feels great appreciation for our alumni, friends, and families who support our student-athlete experience! Through this generosity, our student-athletes can enjoy an enriched experience. Just this past year we were able to travel out of region to play against nationally-ranked opponents (Manchester Cup), hire a part-time goalkeeper coach, and enjoy a team dinner off campus leading into the NCAA Tournament. Our student-athletes represent Babson with great pride, and we are grateful for those who show their pride in us!”
Nellie Pineault MBA’03
WOMEN’S SOCCER
“Babson swimming & diving thanks each and every one of our donors who continue to support the program. We are able to operate, train, compete, and study at the highest levels because of your generosity. Proudly sharing, the program is consistently scoring more points year after year at the conference level. Thanks to you all, we have recently invested in two Colorado Time Systems’ touchpads, four Vasa Trainers, and 45 feet of pull-up bars around the Elizabeth Morse Pool.”
Eric Thurston
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
SUCCESS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
With their victory in the NCAA Doubles National Championship, Olivia Soffer ’25 and Matia Cristiani ’26 earned Babson’s first-ever women’s national title.
“It was incredible to win Babson’s first national championship in women’s sports. The support we have received the last several years has really allowed us to push our program forward and compete at the highest level.”
Michael Kopelman
“Thank you so much to all of our wonderful alumni who donated to our program this year. Olivia Soffer and Matia Cristiani were able to take home the first women’s national championship in Babson history. It is a team effort, and we are so appreciative of your continued support.”
Emma Davis
WOMEN’S TENNIS
MEN’S & WOMEN’S TENNIS
“We are grateful for the overwhelmingly consistent generosity of our alumni, families, and friends. There is nothing we do for our players and the team that is not positively impacted and even possible without your support. You make a difference in everything we do and remain committed to keeping your Babson hockey program among the best in the NCAA every year.”
Jamie Rice
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
SPRING
Women’s Tennis
Olivia Soffer ’25 and Matia Cristiani ’26, NCAA Doubles National Champions
CLUB SPORTS
FALL
WINTER
Field Hockey
NCAA Tournament Final Four
Men’s Soccer
NCAA Tournament Qualifier
Women’s Soccer
NCAA Tournament Qualifier
Women’s Volleyball
NCAA Tournament Qualifier
Women’s Alpine Skiing
2nd in slalom, 3rd in combined standings, USCSA National Championships
Men’s Track & Field
2 National Qualifiers; Eric Bottern ’24, All-America First-Team Honors; Anthony Rodriguez ’24, AllAmerica Second-Team Honors
Men’s Rugby Club
NCR Small College National
15s Championship Winner; Reed Santos, Tournament MVP
Men’s Lacrosse
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Men’s Basketball
NCAA Tournament Qualifier
Women’s Lacrosse
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Club Baseball
Creighton Williams ’24, NECBA All-Star
Men’s Soccer Club
Invited to National Tournament
Baseball
NCAA Tournament Qualifier
Equestrian Club
8th place in region
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Not only do Babson student-athletes excel on the playing surface, they also make a profound impact on the community beyond our campus. This year, our varsity teams volunteered for the following:
AFTD FUNDRAISER
BIKE TO THE BEACH
COACHES FOR CANCER
COREY C. GRIFFIN FOUNDATION
CROSS OUT CANCER
CRUICKSHANK 5K
RACE & WALK
DREAM BIG
FALMOUTH ICE HOCKEY GAME
FRESH CHECK DAY
FRIENDS OF JACLYN FOUNDATION
HARLEM LACROSSE
HEADSTRONG FOUNDATION
MAUI FOOD BANK
MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
MS WALK
PLAY FOR A CURE BREAST CANCER
SERVICE DAY AT DIMOCK CENTER
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
TEAM IMPACT
THANKSGIVING BASKETS (INNER CITY BOSTON)
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
TEAMWORK IN ACTION A NEW MEN’S SOCCER ENDOWMENT
A dedicated group of alumni, parents, and friends came together to honor longtime men’s soccer coach Jon Anderson ’75, P’04 ’08 ’13 ’13—and made an enormous collective impact in the process.
Together, these supporters raised the funds needed to endow Anderson’s head coach position in tribute to his 38 years leading the team. After his eventual retirement, the position will be named for him as well. Fundraising was kept secret from Anderson until they reached their goal and surprised him with the announcement.
This group gift is a meaningful testament to Anderson’s impact on so many members of the team for decades, and it ensures a strong future for Babson men’s soccer. Endowing the head coach position ensures budget stability and competitiveness for hiring and retention, so the program can maintain the excellence and sense of pride that inspired so many to donate in the first place.
“Soccer at Babson is a special program. It has a tradition of excellence that I and others want to see continue for future generations.”
Jim Olivier ’83
“(Anderson) asked a lot of us as young men, and we delivered. He has always done the same thing in return.”
Dave McEachern ’94
A GAME-CHANGING INVESTMENT IN BABSON GOLF
The future of Babson’s men’s and women’s golf programs is now stronger than ever thanks to a transformative gift from entrepreneur and investor Dan Fireman MBA’00.
An avid golfer who played competitively as a student, Fireman has made many contributions to the sport throughout his career. He is the co-founder and executive chairman of Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, and is an active philanthropist supporting efforts to make golf accessible to more young people. This year, he has brought that passion to Babson with a new program endowment that will shape our men’s and women’s programs in perpetuity.
Fireman’s endowment has been envisioned to strengthen Babson’s golf programs while expanding recruitment efforts for both men and women and providing travel opportunities to help foster team cohesion. Another major goal is to increase collegiate golf opportunities for young women.
“I’m incredibly proud to support my alma mater and further the strong momentum for our nationally recognized men’s and women’s golf programs. The game and its positive impact extend far beyond the course to life, family, community, and business. Golf has been such a formative part of my own personal journey and I hope to foster that same connection and opportunity for the many talented student-athletes at Babson.”
Dan Fireman MBA’00
STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
MICHELLE GUAN ’27, WOMEN’S GOLF
Fireman’s gift came during the first year of competition for Babson women’s golf, our newest varsity program. Throughout the season, the team sent a clear message that it is prepared to compete and grow, with top-five placements in all but two events. A highlight was finishing as the runner-up at the Camp Lejeune Intercollegiate in Jacksonville, NC.
At the end of the year, Michelle Guan ’27 reflected on her experiences as one of the inaugural members of the team.
“This season has definitely been an adventure. I had never traveled so much for tournaments before. But now—we went to Maine, we went to North Carolina, and I’m so grateful for all these opportunities.
“Coming into next semester, I’m very excited to meet our new teammates. I’ve realized how much more I love this sport as I’ve gotten comfortable at Babson. And I’m very grateful for my coaches and teammates. Now, not only do I want to do well for myself, I also want to do well for this team. So I hope to carry that weight as well.”
EXCELLENCE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP
BABSON RECREATION
The impact of Babson’s athletics supporters goes far beyond our varsity programs. With the ideal combination of budget resources and students’ trademark entrepreneurial mindset, our entire community has access to some of the most dynamic intramural, club, and recreation opportunities of any college in the area.
Robin Ducharme, associate director of recreation and wellness, has spent the past three years leading the program’s growth. “When I was hired, they told me the recreation department was very new—they’d never had the opportunity to have full recreation offerings to students,” she recalls.
“My role was to come in and build it up… run intramurals, grow club sports, develop different offerings for group exercise, and have more things for students to participate in.”
Since that time, Robin has built the program with an open-minded approach to partnering with students who have new ideas. “When it comes to student
programming, clubs, and intramurals, I am very happy to help them work through figuring out anything. And we’ve had some flops, but the more we fail the more we figure things out and the more feedback we get. So it’s been leading us to evolve.”
And overall, the program has flourished with entrepreneurial Babson students using their unique skills to build popular new activities. Club sports have more than doubled, and intramurals have been attracting a growing mix of general students and off-season varsity athletes alike. Meanwhile, Babson’s first group exercise classes emerged thanks to proposals from students certified in yoga and boxing—and have built a strong following.
Robin anticipates these trends continuing based on the types of students Babson attracts. “You’re not going to do well at Babson if you don’t have a go-getter mindset. Babson recruits students who have the mentality of making things happen, and making networks and connections. So you have these accomplished go-getters coming here, and the best part is that this part of their college career is their stress relief, their fun. They put a lot of work behind it, and they want to succeed, but it’s so much fun for them that it doesn’t feel strenuous or stressful. It just makes them want more.”
“Not every school has the budget for this—no question about it. In the past, we had very little recreational activity. Now it’s a fully functional department that provides students access to just about anything that they would ever want. We have half the student population coming through on a regular basis, so it’s keeping the campus healthy. And this is a big deal.”
Mike Lynch PAMELA P. AND BRIAN M. BAREFOOT ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ATHLETICS
IN 2023-2024:
34 club sports (increased from 13 since 2021)
3,189 members of club sports
15 intramurals
1,000 students in intramurals
COMING UP:
Hosting 2nd annual intercollegiate intramural basketball tournament
New “Learn To…” (squat, play squash, etc.) classes planned for Fall 2024 And more!
COACH SPOTLIGHT
JULIE RYAN, FIELD HOCKEY
Babson field hockey had many reasons to celebrate this past year. In its 40th-anniversary season, the team won its third consecutive conference tournament championship (fifth overall) and reached the NCAA Tournament Final Four. Coach Julie Ryan has seen firsthand how the program has evolved since she arrived in 2007, and the power of Babson’s network of supporters to make a difference.
“The conference championship has been a real focus for our team. Back in 2016, we made it to the NCAA Final Four after winning the conference championship, and we were completely shocked—we didn’t know we were going to make it that far. What’s happened over the last three seasons is a level that isn’t surprising now. It’s something that we’ve worked really hard toward. We’ve had incredible student-athletes who are highly skilled, but we’ve also established a team culture that has allowed us to thrive.”
IMPROVED RESOURCES
“Across the board, everything is better today. Obviously, having a facility that can hold us—we were bursting at the seams before the Len Green Recreation and Athletics Complex. Having strength and conditioning with full-time staff really helps us maintain a high level. We have full-time athletic trainers, and students have access to mental health and sports psychology. Really, we hadn’t been able to address that until now.
“Outside of that, everything from the equipment that’s provided to the travel and exposure—it’s amplified that what Babson is doing within Division III is far above our peers. We are making it a place
where it’s easier to succeed because there are a lot more things that we can take care of for our student-athletes, and we support them. And that’s why when you look at Babson Athletics, you’re seeing success in a lot of different corners.”
A STRONG NETWORK
“I try to get our alumni in front of our current team as often as I can. Because they put us in the spot we’re in today. And it’s important for our younger players to share in that story.
“We’re also able to link student-athletes to alumni for internships that they might not have known about prior. So between the network that athletics provides and the experience we are giving them, the value of being a Babson student-athlete has never been higher.
“And to see alumni names pop up as donors for us—it’s even more exciting because they’re showing me they really believe in what we’re doing. People want to invest in things that they feel are worth the investment. And I have so much pride and feel so much appreciation for our alums trusting us to provide a first-class experience for our student-athletes.”
THANK YOU
Babson’s student-athletes have so much to be proud of this year, and it would not be possible without your support. We are excited to keep building new momentum and see what new heights our champions can reach, with friends and fans like you on our team. GO BABO!
Office of Advancement
231 Forest Street
Babson Park, MA 02457
babson.edu/giving giving@babson.edu
781-239-4800
