Dr. Craig Poisson was named the Springfield College Director of Athletics, on April 15, 2015. Poisson took on the role with more than two decades of athletics administration experience, spending the previous 19 years as a member of the Springfield College Athletics staff and professor of physical education. Poisson was previously the senior associate director of athletics at Springfield College since 2007.
Poisson has had the unique opportunity of working in a variety of capacities for the last three directors of athletics at Springfield College in Dr. Edward Steitz, Dr. Edward Bilik, and Dr. Cathie Schweitzer.
During his time as the Director of Athletics at Springfield College, Poisson has elevated the student-athlete experience through resources, staff, and programs on a number of fronts. The Pride has continued to maintain competitive excellence, highlighted by finishing 22nd nationally in the final overall standings of the 2017-2018 Division III Learfield Directors' Cup, which allowed Springfield to rank in the top 5% of the 450 Division III athletic programs in the country. In his time as the director of athletics, the men’s volleyball program has captured two NCAA Division III National Championships, the men’s basketball program reached their first ever NCAA Division III Championship Final Four, while the football program returned to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2017 following an undefeated regular-season and women’s gymnast Tali Twomey captured a NCGA National Championship on the floor exercise. His commitment to the development of the entire student-athlete is evidenced by Springfield’s Lauren Holt and Emily Medeiros earning NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, while Springfield’s 650-plus student-athletes have consistently maintained a grade point average of 3.33 over the last five years.
Under his leadership, Springfield College earned honorable mention recognition for the 2019 NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association's Award for Diversity and Inclusion and has collected three NADIIIAA Community Service Awards. His understanding of the importance of brand recognition has resulted in Springfield creating a new athletics visual identifier, undertaking a partnership with Under Armour and Graphic Edge, and instituting an online store with Advanced Online. He has been an advocate for nationally-prominent speakers, such as Alexis Jones and Victoria Garrick, to come to campus and provide education and expertise on topics such as mental health and gender-based misconduct. Springfield’s continued partnership with Team IMPACT has continued to develop, as the Pride at one time had the most matches among youth battling life-threatening illness with Springfield College athletic teams.
Additionally, Poisson has created the first full-time assistant coaching positions in program history, as well as an additional athletic training staff member and an Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enhancement to aid in the safety, welfare, and development of the student athletes.
Prior to his appointment as the director of athletics, Poisson's administrative duties previously focused on scheduling and event management for the college’s 26 varsity sport programs. During his tenure, Springfield College has emerged as one of the premiere hosts for Division III postseason events. He has served as Event Manager or Tournament Director for numerous National Championships including the NCAA Division III Field Hockey National Championships, NCAA New England Regional Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championships, United States of America Gymnastics (USAG) National Championships, National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) National Championships, and the inaugural NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball National Championship.
Poisson also spent 19 years in the classroom as a professor of physical education, teaching at the graduate level in Athletic Administration. He serves on numerous campus committees, including the Branding Initiative Group and the Enrollment Task Force and spent two terms on the Faculty Senate. He has presented at the NCAA Convention, the Eastern District Association of the American Alliance for Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention (AAPHERD), as well as the North American Society of the Sociology of Sport Convention.
Poisson served as commissioner of the Pilgrim Lacrosse League, a conference comprised of seven New England-based Division III programs, from 2002 through 2013. He has worked as a Consultant for the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and for Framingham State University, served as the first Chair of the NEWMAC Associate and Assistant Group, and is a member of both the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Officiating/Negotiating and Championships committees. Additionally, he was the first Chair of the NEWMAC Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Committee and has served on several NCAA and ECAC regional selection committees including baseball, field hockey, men’s basketball, and women’s lacrosse. In 2005, Poisson was recognized as the Male Administrator of the Year by the ECAC.
Prior to Springfield College, Poisson served as an athletic administrator and adjunct faculty member at Purchase College, SUNY. Poisson earned both a master’s and a doctoral degree from Springfield College and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary and secondary Physical Education from Southern Connecticut State University. He and his wife Karen reside in Wilbraham with their two children, Tyler and Madison. Poisson's father, Francis, served on the athletic staff at the University of Bridgeport (CT) for 35 years before retiring as Director of Athletics in 1990, while his mother, Chickie, who is an inductee in five athletic halls of fame, including a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. Field Hockey Hall of Fame.
