Jim McLaughlin ’93 enters his 18th season as the Director of Athletics at Union College in 2022-23. In this role, he leads the College’s 26 varsity athletics programs, including 24 at the Division III level in the Liberty League and two - men’s and women’s ice hockey – at Division I in ECAC Hockey. In addition, McLaughlin oversees wellness programs and broad-based intramural and recreational offerings for students, faculty and staff.
His responsibilities include the long-term planning and development of all athletic programs; ensuring academic success and engagement of student-athletes within the College community; compliance with NCAA and League policies; hiring and supervising coaches and staff; and overseeing departmental budgets, facilities, fundraising and marketing.
McLaughlin has been instrumental in enhancing the student-athlete experience at Union, with numerous teams and students achieving impressive athletic success and academic distinctions. In 2013, he initiated the Faculty Mentor program to strengthen the existing relationship and enhance communication between faculty, coaches and students. In addition, he has presented at the annual AAC&U conference on successful strategies for the integration of academics and athletics.
Under McLaughlin’s leadership, Union has dramatically increased its annual fundraising for programs in order to enhance the student-athlete experience and also raised funds for numerous capital projects. He has overseen the planning of several facility additions and upgrades, including the Breazzano ‘78 Fitness Center, the Travis J. Clark ’00 Strength Training Facility, Memorial Fieldhouse and Frank Bailey Athletic Field and Track, in addition to several improvements in Alumni Gymnasium including an indoor golf practice facility, an indoor rowing tank and upgraded locker rooms.
McLaughlin returned to his alma mater in May 2005 after spending four years at Brown University as the Associate Director of Athletics for Finance, where he was responsible for the development and management of the department’s annual budget. He also oversaw external relations, including marketing and corporate partnerships, athletic communications and ticket operations. He was a sport administrator for women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer and men’s basketball.
Prior to joining Brown, McLaughlin spent four years at Princeton University in multiple roles, eventually leading business operations as the Assistant Director of Athletics. He also spent one year as interim director of intramurals and physical education at Brown.
McLaughlin received his bachelor’s degree in history from Union in 1993 and a master’s in business administration from Union Graduate College in 1997. As a student-athlete at Union, McLaughlin was a four-year member of the varsity football team and was named both Associated Press and Champion second-team All American on the offensive line in his senior season. From 1993 to 1996, he served as a graduate assistant at Union, where he coached the offensive line and assisted the offensive coordinator. The team made the NCAA Tournament in 1993 and 1995.
McLaughlin has served in leadership positions with the NCAA as a member of the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey committee (2015-17), president of the Liberty League (2008-10), and chair of ECAC Hockey (2017-18). He is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the College Athletic Business Managers Association (CABMA).
He and his wife, Jeannie, have two daughters: Cassidy and Brenna.
