Photo: ERIN IWASKIEWICZ
W
hen Amy Huchthausen was named commissioner of the America East Conference in fall 2011, conference realignment dominated the headlines at the highest levels of Division I. It wouldn’t be long — just eight months into the job — before realignment hit her own league, when Boston University jumped to the Colonial Athletic Association.
Amy Huchthausen
America East Conference |
Commissioner
“I quickly learned just how fast things can happen,” Huchthausen said. “It was critical to get the league back to a place of stability.”
Realignment proved to be both a blessing and a curse. While the America East lost one of its premier schools, the conference learned in the process that it had found a more than capable leader in its new commissioner. Huchthausen led the charge to bring the University of Massachusetts Lowell in as the conference’s ninth school and ease the concerns of her conference presidents.
“I think it was a huge early challenge,” Huchthausen said. “If we hadn’t ended up in such a successful place, it would be lot different in our league. It certainly gave me a chance to execute my vision and show leadership.”
Since then, Huchthausen has led efforts to reshape the America East’s branding and identity.
“Our brand is about the student-athlete experience, and we try not to get caught up in the arms race,” said Huchthausen, who has used her experience as a Division III softball player to shape her outlook as an administrator. “We’re going to keep our focus on who we are and what we are with the resources we have.”
— Michael Smith
- Notable professional achievement: Changing the culture, attitude and focus of our conference.
- Biggest professional disappointment: Conference realignment at the FCS/D-I level, and having to deal with it in my first year before we had a chance to reset ourselves as a league. However, as with most challenges and disappointments, it was an opportunity to learn, and we ended up in a great place.
- Best advice received: Control the controllables.
- Causes supported: You Can Play Project, National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (board of directors member).
- Most memorable sporting event attended: The 2015 Women’s World Cup semifinal match in Montreal between the U.S. and Germany.
- If my colleagues were asked to describe me, they would say I: Am steady, confident, sarcastic — and like to wear sneakers.
