The University of New Hampshire has appointed Ryan Colton as its next director of athletics.
Colton is a New England native who currently serves the University of Richmond as deputy athletic director and chief of staff. In total, the New England Law graduate has 15 years of experience as a senior leader in NCAA Division I athletics.
He’s now charged with leading UNH’s 20-sport program in an era of shifting compliance regulations, name-image-likeness (NIL) compensation, a shrinking student body and decreases in state funding.
“Ryan has the vision, experience and judgment to lead UNH athletics at a pivotal moment in college sports,” said UNH President Elizabeth S. Chilton in a press release. “He understands the rapidly changing Division I landscape and what it will take to position our programs for sustained competitive success. Just as important, he recognizes that athletics is an integral part of the university. His focus on strong connections across campus and on the whole student-athlete will help ensure our students succeed in competition, in the classroom, and in their lives after graduation.”
Colton will be taking over for Allison Rich, who served as in the role from 2022 to 2026. Before joining UNH and Richmond, Colton was a special assistant to the athletic director at Providence College for two years while also serving as a city councilor in Taunton, Mass. He later became the assistant AD for compliance at Holy Cross for two years before joining Richmond in 2018.
While at Richmond, he oversaw “business operations, human resources, legal affairs, compliance, NIL initiatives, student-athlete conduct and implementation of emerging NCAA policies,” according to the news release.
Colton also led the restructuring and rebranding of Richmond’s athletic fund, which had sustained fundraising growth and contributed to the university’s NIL strategy, according to the UNH press release.
“The University of New Hampshire represents everything I value about higher education and intercollegiate athletics: a commitment to student success, access to opportunity and the pursuit of excellence,” Colton said in the release. “I am honored to join the UNH community and grateful to President Chilton and the search committee for the opportunity to lead Wildcat athletics.
“Together with our coaches, staff, alumni and supporters, we will build on UNH’s proud tradition by pursuing championships, fostering academic achievement and creating transformational opportunities for our student-athletes while strengthening the university’s connection to communities across New Hampshire and New England.”