Endowed Athletic Department Positions

In much the same way that an endowed chair supports a university professor, Harvard's 18 endowed positions within the Department of Athletics help provide the financial support for the Crimson's 42 varsity intercollegiate teams and free unrestricted funds to benefit the Department of Athletics and the College as a whole. Fourteen of the endowed positions within the Department of Athletics are head coaching positions. The other endowment is earmarked for Harvard's Director of Athletics, The Nichols Family Director of Athletics.

John D. Nichols, Jr. '53, MBA '55 was profoundly influenced by Harvard's commitment to academics and athletics - a commitment that, in his words, "gives a fundamental formula for life."  A former football captain, rugby player and freshman coach, he became reacquainted with Harvard Athletics through the positive experiences of his daughter, Kendra '95, and son, John '98, both former Crimson student-athletes.  His 1996 gift reflects his commitment to the role that sports play in developing leadership skills during a student's time at Harvard.

The Joseph J. O'Donnell '67 MBA '71 Head Coach for Harvard Baseball
A baseball and football letterwinner as an undergraduate, Joseph O'Donnell '67, MBA '71 has remained an ardent supporter of Harvard athletics while leaving an indelible mark on the baseball program.  His 1996 gift endowed the head coach position, while Harvard's field, on which the Crimson has played for more than a century, was dedicated in his name in 1997.

The Thomas Bolles Endowment for Men's Heavyweight Crew
Named in honor of Thomas Bolles, coach of the Harvard heavyweight crew from 1937-1951, this endowed coaching position recognizes Thomas Bolles' success as a coach and as a positive influence on the character of his oarsmen. Bolles guided the Crimson to 105 dual race wins, including a 10-1 mark in the Harvard-Yale Regatta, during his tenure as head coach.  In 1947, Harvard set a world record for 2,000 meters at the Washington Regatta and established itself as one of the fastest crews in Harvard history. The gift was given by Robert G. Stone, Jr.’45, the captain of the 1947 crew and long-time supporter of Harvard Rowing.

The Friends of Harvard Lightweight Rowing Coach for Men's Lightweight Crew
A group of dedicated and loyal lightweight rowing alumni jointly endowed the head coach position to ensure that the success that has defined Harvard lightweight rowing’s storied past continues in the future.
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The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football
The Stephenson family has been actively involved with Harvard Athletics for three generations and associated with the University for four.  The family's longstanding dedication to Harvard and its athletics programs led Thomas Stephenson '64 to offer three significant gestures of generosity: the 1994 gift to establish the first endowed position in the Department of Athletics; the lead gift to the Women's Athletic Challenge Fund which led to more than $15 million in contributions; and the lead gift for the 2006 Harvard Stadium Renovation.  Reflecting the entire family's commitment to Harvard, the name of the football head coach endowment lacks a middle initial in order to recognize the many years of involvement of Stephenson's father, Thomas Stephenson '37, AM '38, as a member of the varsity basketball team and as the sports information director in the Department of Athletics.  In addition, two of Stephenson's daughters, Tenley '91 and Anne '98, played soccer and lacrosse, respectively, and his grandfather, Gilbert Thomas Stephenson, was a graduate of Harvard Law School.

The Paul M. Weissman '52 Director of Harvard Golf
Paul M. Weissman '52 was a three-time letterwinner on the Harvard golf team (1950-52) and served as team captain during the 1952 season. During his junior season, Weissman helped the Crimson finish fifth at the Eastern Intercollegiate Championships and also served as freshman team captain in 1949. He and his wife, Harriet, have been devoted alumni and friends of Harvard. The pair established the University Library's Weissman Preservation Center in 2000, and they endowed the Paul M. and Harriett L. Weissman Senior Photograph Conservator in the Harvard University Library in 2007 before endowing the golf coaching position in the fall of 2012. 
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The Robert D. Ziff '88 Head Coach for Harvard Men's Ice Hockey
A longtime friend of Harvard Athletics, Robert Ziff '88 has been a season-ticket holder since the team's 1989 NCAA championship.  An avid undergraduate skater with Dunster House, Ziff's first major gift came in 1995 when he endowed the College's intramural hockey program.  His support of Crimson athletics continued in 1998 by endowing the men's ice hockey head coach position.

The Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women's Ice Hockey
Kevin Landry '66, his wife, Barrie, and their daughters, Kimberly Gwinn Landry '93 and Jennifer Landry Le '99, celebrated their long-standing affiliation with Harvard ice hockey by endowing the women's head coach position in April 2008.  Kevin Landry's gift to the women's ice hockey program is the culmination of his family's love affair with the game.  An avid fan during his undergraduate years, he continued to follow Harvard ice hockey after graduating; and, years later, both of his daughters played for the Crimson, with Kimberly serving as a captain.  Landry says, "This gift honors the long and great tradition of varsity sports at Harvard, and we hope that it will influence the lives of many generations of Harvard ice hockey's talented athletes."
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The Frisbie Family Head Coach for Harvard Men's Lacrosse
Richard D. Frisbie '71, JD '74, an All-Ivy League midfielder who captained the men's lacrosse team his senior year, endowed the head coach position in May 2008.  Rick and his wife, Lisa, have been dedicated supporters of Harvard Athletics for many years, dating back to Rick's undergraduate years when he was three-year starter in lacrosse (1969-71) and football (1968-70) during an era when freshmen were not eligible to play on the varsity squads.  Years later, the Frisbie's daughter, Lizzy '02, would continue the family tradition as a midfielder on the Crimson women's lacrosse team.  Frisbie hopes that his gift will influence the lives of many generations of Harvard lacrosse players, just as his life was influenced by his time in Cambridge.
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The Paul J. Finnegan Family Head Coach for Harvard Skiing
Paul J. Finnegan '75, a former Nordic ski captain for Harvard, was a four-year letterwinner and two-time MVP for the Crimson. He has remained involved with Harvard, its athletics program and the Friends of Harvard Skiing since graduating. Finnegan said skiing was a very important part of his undergraduate experience at Harvard and he would never forget the spirit and camaraderie of that group.
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The Virginia B. and James O. Welch, Jr. '52 Head Coach for Harvard Men's Soccer
Longtime supporters of men's soccer, Virginia and James Welch '52 endowed the Crimson's head coach position in 1997.  The Welches' support of Harvard goes beyond athletics, however, as the family has also endowed the James O. Welch and Virginia B. Welch Professor of Computer Science.  In recognition of the family's commitment, the Harvard men's soccer team MVP award is named in its honor.

The Gregory Lee '87 and Russell Ball '88 Endowed Coach for Squash at Harvard University
Donated by Gregory T.H. Lee AB 1987 and Russell C. Ball III AB 1988, friends and teammates, in honor of their fathers, Theodore B. Lee AB 1954 and Russell C. Ball, Jr., who loved squash and used it as a vehicle to impart many life lessons: sportsmanship, humility, respect, perseverance, competition, and the power of dedication and hard work.  The long tradition of excellence within the Harvard Squash program was built on these principles.  The Lee and Ball families hope this gift will benefit generations of Harvard Squash athletes and unite the alumni in continued support of the program.
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The Ulen-Brooks Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Swimming & Diving
Thanks to the generous support of the Egan Family, Harvard is pleased to announce the Ulen-Brooks Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Swimming and Diving. Charles J. Egan, Jr. '54,  or Charlie, as he is known by his friends and family, and his son, Peter '86, both served as captains for the men's swimming and diving team during their senior season. The Egan family has endowed the position in honor of the first two men's swimming and diving coaches at Harvard, Harold S. Ulen and William J. Brooks.
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The Costin Family Head Coach for Harvard Women's Swimming & Diving
RoAnn Costin '74, an All-America swimmer and rower for the Crimson, established Harvard's first women's head coach endowment in April 2008.  The gift is in memory of her mother, Rosemary Cole Costin, and in honor of her sister, Maura Costin Scalise '80.  Scalise, an All-America swimmer and former Harvard women's swimming and diving head coach, guided her teams to four Eastern Championship and seven Ivy League Championship crowns during an illustrious 13-year career.  For RoAnn Costin, her gift is a tribute to the people who influenced her life so profoundly.  She states, "I am thrilled to be in a position to give back, and I encourage other women and men who have benefited from their Harvard experience to ensure that future generations have similar opportunities."
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The Scott Mead '77 Family Head Coach for Harvard Men's Tennis
Scott Mead '77, a lacrosse and squash letterwinner and tennis enthusiast, endowed the men's head tennis coach position in September 2008.  As a squash player, Mead excelled under the tutelage of Dave Fish, at a time in which Fish served as the head coach for both the squash and tennis programs.  Scott recognizes that his athletic experience and mentoring by outstanding coaches taught him competitive and ethical values that have benefited him professionally and personally.  In his post-Harvard years, Scott's deep appreciation for tennis flourished, and he sees the sport as a vehicle to build community by encouraging participation at all levels of ability.  By endowing the head coach position, he hopes to positively impact the lives of those touched by the game he loves.
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The William W. "Bill" McCurdy Director of Track and Field/Cross Country
The endowment was made possible by a generous gift from Jean-Marc Chapus ’81, MBA ’86 and his wife Victoria E. Chapus. Jean-Marc Chapus was a four-year letterwinner on the Harvard track and field team and served as captain of the squad his senior season in 1980-81. William “Bill” McCurdy headed the Harvard track and field and cross country programs for 31 years from 1951-82. With 147 career track and field victories and just 29 career defeats, he is far away Harvard’s most successful coach, both in terms of winning percentage (.835) and total victories. In his time as coach, the men’s indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country teams yielded 19 combined heptagonal championships and 37 Greater Boston Championship titles.
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The Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach
Made possible through the donations of three former water polo captains -- Michael S. Graff, AB '73, John C. Hansen, Jr., AB '81 and MBA '85 and Peter J. Richards, AB '92 -- the endowment honors Harvard's water polo tradition and helps to ensure its future success. 
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The David G. Bunning '88 Head Coach for Harvard Wrestling
Dave Bunning's '88 endowment of the Harvard wrestling head coach position in October 2004 has had a profound impact, ensuring the ability to support outstanding coaches and athletes who pursue excellence and strive for national recognition.  Wrestling has had a tremendous influence on Dave and his family, and his gift honors the long and great tradition of wrestling at Harvard.  Dave is actively involved in the program on many levels, and his continued support has made a significant difference in the lives of many Harvard wrestlers.
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