At the end of the academic year, Trinity tied for 66th among the almost 400 Division III schools in the Sears Directors Cup, which is given each year to the Country’s most successful athletic program and sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

Since 1982, Director of Athletics Richard J. Hazelton has taken strides in creating a winning environment at Trinity College. Competing on the NCAA Division III level, Trinity College sponsors 29 intercollegiate sports, 15 for men and 14 for women. In addition, there are numerous intramural and club sports in which non-varsity athletes can participate. In Hazelton’s tenure, the College has constructed an eight-lane, 37-meter swimming pool, 16-seat rowing tanks, a vastly improved fitness center, and the nation’s top squash facility, as well as numerous improvements to the playing fields and facilities.

Hazelton earned his bachelor’s degree from Marietta College in 1966 and received a master’s of science degree in sports administration from the University of Massachusetts in 1976. Hazelton taught history and was an assistant football coach at Lancaster High School in Ohio from 1969-73 before becoming the head freshman football coach at Amherst College in 1973.

In 1974, Hazelton came to Trinity when he was named an assistant professor of physical education, head track & field coach, and assistant football coach. For eight seasons, Hazelton worked under former Head Football Coach Don Miller, helping Trinity record six winning campaigns and a 42-21-1 record, a .664 winning percentage.

In January 1982, Hazelton assumed the duties as the acting associate athletic director when Karl Kurth took a sabbatical leave. Kurth subsequently retired and Hazelton was namedTrinity’s director of athletics. In 1989, Hazelton was promoted to professor of physical education.

During his tenure, Hazelton has been extremely active on various committees throughout the region and the nation. Previously the chairman of the ECAC North/South Hockey Tournament (1987-91) and a member of the ECAC Finance Committee (1993-96), Hazelton has also served on the NCAA Voting Committee (1987-90), the Football Rules Committee (1996-00), the Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Commitee (1998-00), and Committee on Committees (1990-93). In additon, Hazelton was the chairman of the NECAC selection committee for Division III Male Athlete of the Year from 1988-92 (member 1985-93), chairman of the ECAC Division III lacrosse tournament in 1990 and 1996-98, and a member of both the East-West Hockey Tournament Committee from 1996-99 and the Ice Hockey Executive Committee (1990-98). Currently, Hazelton is chairman of the Avaya Collegiate Rowing Championship Regatta Board of Stewards (member since 1995) and a member of the ECAC Football Executive Committee and the ECAC Marketing Committee. From 1982-1999, Hazelton served as the treasurer for the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and was president in 1990-91.

Hazelton and his wife, Anne, reside in nearby Windsor and have three sons, all of whom have studied at Trinity and played varsity lacrosse: Tad ’92, who also played football, James ’93, and Alex ’99.