Coming Full Circle: An Interview With the New Director of Athletics and Recreation

Kristin Hughes S.M. ’93, Smith’s new director of athletics and recreation, brings a range of experiences to the post—including stints as a college administrator and coach, and as head of a 27-team urban high school athletics program.

Hughes, who began work at Smith in July, is no stranger to the college—or the region. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and secondary education from Elms College in Chicopee, Mass., and a master of science degree in exercise and sport studies (ESS) from Smith.

Hughes succeeds Lynn Oberbillig, who was the college’s director of athletics and recreation for more than two decades and is now a full-time lecturer in the exercise and sport studies department.

As head of athletics at Smith, Hughes oversees 12 intercollegiate teams competing in the NCAA Division III, club and intramural sports, multiple athletic facilities, and a vibrant recreation program that serves the entire campus community.

She also leads a department with a track record of academic success. The average GPA of Smith student athletes is 3.42, and 81 percent are on the Dean’s List. During the 2014-15 academic year, 22 Smith athletes were named Seven Sisters Scholar Athletes—a title given to seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who have been varsity athletes for three years.

Dean of the College Donna Lisker described Hughes as “exactly the right person to take Smith athletics to the next level. She will build on the legacy of excellence established under Lynn Oberbillig, and we’re particularly happy to bring back one of our own ESS graduates.”

For her part, Hughes said returning to Smith—where her coaching career began—is “coming full circle.”

Here’s what else she had to say about athletics at the college:

How did you become interested in sports?
“My dad was a high school football coach, so I grew up with sports. I played basketball and ran track in high school in Swampscott, Mass. I then spent 17 years coaching women’s college basketball—11 of them at Case Western Reserve University and three at Colgate University. After we adopted our daughter, Emma, now 10, I didn’t want to be on the road as much. So for the last eight years, I worked as the athletics director at an urban public high school system in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.”

What did you learn from that experience?
“I tried to be creative in reaching the high school population. Athletics was huge for that community. For some families, it was the end all. One of the frustrating pieces was that families could be short sighted about just getting kids through high school and not thinking about higher education. Athletics can be a great vehicle to help students get to the next level. We actually had a football player who earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Massachusetts Amherst.”

What drew you to the position at Smith?
“I attended Elms College for my undergraduate degree when Elms was also all-women. In that setting, you were thrown into leadership positions in a way that was very different from a coed college. Smith is the first single-sex institution I’ve worked at in my professional career. It’s inspiring to be at a place that epitomizes women in leadership and sport. It’s also great not to have to fight for resources. Here, the spotlight falls automatically on women’s sports.”

You earned your master’s degree in exercise science at Smith. What are the biggest changes you’ve noticed on campus since you’ve been back?
“The Olin Fitness Center wasn’t here then. The center provides us opportunities to reach out to different folks all across campus. The graduate program [in exercise science] has also changed a lot. When I attended, it was a much smaller program with about 12 students. The program certainly has grown, and many of the graduate assistants enrolled in the master’s program are now coming in with a lot of experience in the field.”

What new initiatives will you be leading in the near future?
“I think there is an opportunity to rebrand what it means to be a student athlete at Smith. Athletics needs to be about more than just your practices and your games. We need to do a good job of getting our story out there about this group of students who are as talented in the classroom as they are on the court or on the field. There is also an entirely different population of students who are dedicated to their club sport teams as well as Smith’s thriving outdoor programs. Those opportunities play a vital role in providing an excellent undergraduate experience here. Reconnecting with alumnae is also important, and I’m going to be looking for more ways to do that going forward.”

Has anything surprised you about your first few months back at Smith?
“So far, no. People here have been extremely supportive, warm and welcoming. I am fortunate that my predecessor, Lynn Oberbillig, works in the building and has offered me great support. We’ve been meeting daily, and she’s been a fantastic resource. I’m able to walk in and say, ‘What’s the background on this?’ I’m excited just to have students back on campus this fall. That part is really fun.”