DUDLEY, Mass. (5/10/2026) – Nichols College President Bill Pieczynski today announced the promotion of Kristan Mallet as the College's next Director of Athletics.
"I am pleased to share that Kristan Mallet has been appointed as the next director of athletics at Nichols College," said President Pieczynski. "Kristan has served Nichols with distinction since 2006 and has led our athletics department as interim director since July 2025. During that time, she has provided steady, strategic leadership across our 22 NCAA Division III men's and women's and two additional coed varsity programs, overseeing core areas including budgeting, compliance, staffing, facilities, and game operations.
Kristan brings deep institutional knowledge to this role, having previously served as deputy director of athletics, senior associate director of athletics, and senior woman administrator. She has been a trusted leader in advancing student-athlete development, academic success initiatives, fundraising efforts such as the Bison Club and Giving Day, and alignment of athletics with the College's broader strategic priorities.
As a coach, Kristan's impact has been extraordinary. She is the winningest field hockey coach in Nichols history and ranks second all-time in softball victories, guiding both programs to sustained competitive and academic success. Her commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes has shaped generations of Bison and strengthened our athletic culture. I am confident that Kristan's experience, integrity, and dedication to Nichols College will serve our athletics program - and our campus community - exceptionally well."
Appointed Interim Director of Athletics in July 2025, Kristan Mallet has been a leader within the Nichols College athletics department since 2006. She oversees the College's 24 varsity programs, managing areas including compliance, budgeting, recruiting, staffing, facilities, and student-athlete development. Prior to that role, Mallet served as Deputy Director, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, and Senior Woman Administrator. She has also led major fundraising and strategic planning initiatives while helping strengthen student-athlete success and campus engagement.
A highly successful coach, Mallet is the winningest field hockey coach in program history, leading Nichols to a CCC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009. She also earned 136 career wins as head softball coach, ranking second in program history. Before joining Nichols, Mallet worked in education and coaching in Springfield, Massachusetts. A 1994 graduate of Springfield College, she remains committed to the growth and success of Nichols athletics.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Director of Athletics at Nichols College", said Mallet. "Nichols has been my home since 2006, and I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the passion, resilience, and pride that define our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, and campus community. I would like to sincerely thank Bill Pieczynski and Bob LaVigne for their trust, guidance, and continued support throughout this process. Their belief in the future of Nichols Athletics and in my leadership means a great deal to me.
I also have tremendous belief in our athletics staff and the work they do each day for our student-athletes and institution. Our coaches, administrators, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning staff, support staff, and game operations personnel work tirelessly behind the scenes to create an outstanding experience for our students. Their dedication, care, and commitment to Nichols Athletics are what make this department special, and I am excited to continue working alongside them as we move the department forward together.
I look forward to building upon the strong tradition of Bison Athletics by continuing to prioritize the student-athlete experience, fostering competitive excellence, supporting academic and personal growth, and strengthening the sense of community that makes Nichols truly special. It is an exciting time for Nichols Athletics, and I am proud to continue leading and serving a department that means so much to me."
