University of New England

UNE names new athletic director

Kim Allen of Woodstock, Conn. has been named director of athletics at the University of New England. 

Allen, who had been associate director of athletics at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. since 2001, took up up her new position in February 2006. Allen succeeds Karol ’Heureux, who announced in September she is stepping aside as director of athletics but will remain at UNE as assistant director of athletics and head volleyball coach.

While at Smith, Allen had been responsible for all facets of administration including day-to-day operations, budget management, event management, and marketing and promotion.  Allen has experience with grant writing, having received funding for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Ethnic and Minority Women Internship Programming and Diversity Programming.

Experience
Before her tenure at Smith, Allen served as associate director of athletics at Rutgers University-Newark from July 1998 until June 2001.  Her other athletics administrative experiences include: director of athletics at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Science (1997-98), assistant field hockey coach and event coordinator at Springfield College (1996-97), and director of athletics and physical education at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Conn. (1991-96).

A 1985 graduate of Douglass College (Rutgers University) with a bachelor of science degree in physical education and sport management, Allen received her master of education degree in athletics administration from Springfield College in 1997.  She was a four-year field hockey and lacrosse player in college, serving as captain in each sport.  Allen was also a member of the United States Olympic Festival East Field Hockey bronze medal team in 1982.

She is very active on the regional and national level in committee work, serving as a member of Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) III New England Women’s Basketball Championship Committee, as well as the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators Executive Committee.  In 1994 and 1995 she was facility and operations manager of the McCall’s Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour event in Stratton Mountain, Vt.

UNE Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Barbara Hazard feels UNE has found the right person to lead its athletics program.  “Kim impressed us with her enthusiasm and energy during the interview process,” commented Hazard.  “She has a solid background in collegiate athletics, and we feel she will fit in very well here.”

Allen, who was selected from an applicant pool of more than 50, will start in February at UNE.  “I am extremely excited and honored to join the UNE Athletics Department and to be part of a team that is committed to a successful future,” she said.  “The University is in a position of growth and development with opportunities to strengthen the student-athlete experience and increase the visibility and viability of our programs.  I look forward to getting started and to meeting the community.”

UNE's Programs
UNE sponsors a total of 13 varsity sports, including men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s volleyball, women’s swimming, women’s softball, women’s field hockey and golf.  The Nor’easters are a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference as an NCAA III institution.

(Press release updated March 30, 2006)