“Amy’s skill set, vast experience and knowledge of the national landscape of college athletics gained from working at four Division I conferences and the NCAA national office elevated her to the top of an impressive field of candidates,” said Huddleston.
Huchthausen becomes the fourth commissioner in America East history and will be the first woman to lead the league. She replaces Patrick Nero, who resigned in April to become Director of Athletics at George Washington University. Huchthausen will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of America East and will oversee all facets of the operations of the NCAA Division I conference, which has nine member institutions and conducts championships in 20 sports. America East, which was originally formed as an association of men’s basketball institutions in 1979 and served in that capacity until 1987, began its 24th year as an all-sports conference in the fall.
“It is truly an honor to have been selected as the next commissioner of the America East Conference,” said Huchthausen. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this wonderful group of institutions that balance academic excellence with strong and competitive athletics programs. I look forward to engaging with everyone in the America East family as we work together to move the conference forward.”
Huchthausen comes to America East after spending the last four years as Director of Academic and Membership Services at the NCAA. For the last two years, she has helped lead a 60-member administrative staff and coordinated internal operations for the department’s senior management team. She was a key member of the team that oversaw Division III’s strategic plan and was instrumental in the success of the organization’s Identity Initiative and Strategic Positioning Platform, a data-driven branding initiative to create a clear and concise message centered on the division’s philosophy across the Division III membership of over 450 schools. Huchthausen provided leadership on a variety of matters including championships, strategic planning and finance, membership and brand development.
Prior to her transition to Division III in 2009, Huchthausen worked with the Division I athletics certification program and interpretations, first as associate director for a year and then as director after being promoted in 2007. In that role, she led several Division I committees within the governance structure including the Committee on Athletics Certification, Recruiting and Athletics Personnel Issues Cabinet, Legislative Review and Interpretations Committee and Legislative Council. She has also provided support to the Division I Committee on Academic Performance and the Division I Men’s Basketball Academic Enhancement Working Group and was a member of an internal team that developed policy recommendations to the Division I Board of Directors addressing the men’s basketball recruiting environment.
“I have worked with Amy in two contexts--at the America East Conference several years ago and more recently at the NCAA--and I can say with great confidence that she is one of the brightest rising stars in intercollegiate athletics,” said University of Hartford President Walt Harrison. “I believe that, with her superb analytical skills and understanding of the national scene, the conference will thrive in the years ahead.”
As America East’s Assistant Commissioner from 2004-06, Huchthausen provided governance & compliance services for member schools, oversaw the conference academic awards program and provided operational support at several conference championships. She served as the primary liaison to conference’s compliance directors, academic advisors, Life Skills directors and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and also worked closely with the league’s Athletics Directors’ Council, Senior Woman Administrators, Faculty Athletics Representatives and Strategic Planning Committee.
“We are thrilled that Amy Huchthausen will be the conference’s next commissioner,” said University at Albany’s Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy, also the chair of America East’s Athletic Director’s Council. “Her familiarity with America East will serve as a great asset as we work together to grow our rich academic and athletic tradition.”
Prior to arriving at America East, Huchthausen served as an Assistant Director of Compliance & Governance at the ACC (2002-04), Director of Compliance at the Missouri Valley Conference (2002-04) and as a compliance assistant at the BIG EAST Conference (2000-01).
Huchthausen has served on several NCAA committees including the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, the Division I Legislative Review and Interpretations Committee and the Division III Management Council.
A native of Richfield, Minn., Huchthausen graduated from University of Wisconsin La Crosse in 1999 with a B.S. in Exercise & Sport Science and was an all-conference softball standout and team captain for the Eagles. She served on SAAC all four years at UW La Crosse and served on the Division III Amateurism Task Force.
