The changing of the guard is an important step in determining the future of a program. For a department with a rich history such as the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Ithaca College, the search for the next athletic director is underway with a deadline of July 1, according to the athletics department.
Susan Bassett ’79 has been the associate vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation at the college since the 2013-14 academic year. On Feb. 6, Bassett made the announcement that she will be stepping down at the end of the spring semester.
Her announcement immediately prompted a search for the next director of intercollegiate athletics.
Margaret Shackell, associate professor in the School of Business and the college’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, said 12 potential candidates will be interviewed between May 1-2. She said three finalists will then visit the college from May 12-14. WittKieffer, a premier executive search and advisory solutions firm, is assisting with the hiring process.
“They specialize in finding people to apply and help guide the process,” Shackell said. “Then President Cornish, with input from Susan Bassett, choose people that represent all the constituencies on campus to be on the search committee.”
Shackell said she joins the coaches’ meetings and meets with the provost and Bassett monthly to ensure all leadership is on the same page about making the right decisions for student athletes.
The search committee, selected by President La Jerne Cornish, with input from Bassett, consists of two student athletes and two head coaches: senior football player Josh Miles, senior golfer Rheanna DeCrow, women’s soccer head coach Melinda Quigg and men’s basketball head coach Waleed Farid.
From the student perspective, DeCrow said via email that the search process has been enlightening and displays the foundation of running an athletics department.
“It makes you look at your time as an athlete in a grander perspective,” DeCrow said. “[They allow reflection] on what have been the most important values and principles over your time as an Ithaca Bomber and trying to find someone who aligns as well as possible with those principles.”
Quigg said via email that the search committee is focused on combining the tradition of past success with the outlook of progression toward a stronger future.
“Our search committee embodies the inclusivity and diversity that are core to our values, bringing together a range of perspectives — from dedicated faculty and staff to the vibrant voices of our student-athletes, who lend critical insights from their firsthand experiences in our athletic programs,” Quigg said.
As a member of one of the college’s smallest varsity athletics programs, DeCrow said she holds a greater understanding of the smaller teams on campus and how they maintain stability. She said her work in student-media organizations like ICTV has also led to her building stronger connections with the other athletics programs, allowing for their voices to be heard.
“I feel a great deal of responsibility to make sure I am doing what is in the best interest of all the student athletes on campus,” DeCrow said. “I really try within our committee meetings to make sure the student athlete perspective is heard so that the Ithaca athlete experience continues to be one of excellence, competitiveness, and everything that makes being a Bomber so special.”
The NACDA Learfield Directors’ Cup honors the success of every college athletics program across the country, spanning all three divisions in the NCAA, the NAIA and junior colleges. The Bombers finished 32nd overall out of over 400 Division III schools in 2024, coming in as the top-ranked Liberty League institution.
During Bassett’s tenure, the college has placed in the top 20 among DIII schools seven times, including two top 10 finishes in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years.
Part of that success is credited to the college’s different coaches in each sport. Women’s basketball head coach Dan Raymond completed his 25th season at the helm in 2025. As one of the college’s longest tenured head coaches, Raymond has led the Bombers to 14 20-win seasons out of 25 games on the schedule. He said the athletic directors he has worked with have helped him adapt to the continuously shifting environment of the athletics department with coaches coming and going.
“I trust Susan,” Raymond said. “Her confidence in where the athletic department stands right now leads me to believe that I can have confidence in where we are moving forward.”
The athletics department took another step in providing its teams with the best equipment, facilities, coaches and resources by building the Athletics and Events Center in 2011. Under Bassett, the college has completed multiple renovations to Butterfield Stadium, starting with the new retaining wall in 2017 and a new synthetic playing surface in 2023. The college has also begun construction on a new outdoor track and field facility that is scheduled to be fully operational in Spring 2026.
Shackell said the fundraising efforts started by Bassett, as well as the individualized coaching instilled, such as the leadership academy program and faculty athlete mentors, are crucial for the long-term success of each program.
While the process is still in its early stages, DeCrow said she is confident that the future director of athletics will continue to guide the success of the college’s sports programs.
“We have a great pool of applicants that are extensively qualified,” DeCrow said. “I am very much looking forward to continuing the process and doing all that we can to make sure we are closing [on] someone who aligns with the Ithaca vision and Bomber standards.”
