Erin McDermott is Harvard’s eighth John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics. She leads the largest Division I intercollegiate program in the country with 42 varsity teams.

During her first year in 2020-21, McDermott successfully guided the department without competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a focus on structure and culture, McDermott announced both a restructuring and realignment plan. Department-wide competitive success under McDermott’s leadership has thrived since 2021. Most recently, Harvard Athletics experienced its most successful year in 2023-24 with four national championships, 13 conference championships and a ranking of 29th in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. In fall 2024, the Department launched a strategic action plan for the future of Harvard Athletics.

Prior to Harvard, McDermott was the director of athletics and recreation at the University of Chicago and spent 16 years in the Ivy League, at Princeton and Columbia. A Division I student-athlete at Hofstra, McDermott was senior captain of the women’s basketball team, graduating with a BBA in International Business. She also holds an MS in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.