Appointed as Interim Director of Athletics in July 2025, Kristan Mallet has been a dedicated and influential leader within the athletics department at Nichols College since 2006. In this role, she oversees the College’s 22 NCAA Division III and two varsity programs, providing strategic leadership across budgeting, compliance, recruiting, scheduling, travel, staffing, facilities, and game management.
Mallet also directs key areas including sport administration, student-athlete development, academic success initiatives, community engagement, and inclusive excellence. She has played a significant role in advancing institutional priorities through her leadership in fundraising efforts, including the Bison Club and the department’s annual Giving Day campaign, while continuing to foster a culture of academic achievement, competitive success, and meaningful student engagement.
Mallet is currently involved in the College’s strategic planning process, aligning athletics with broader institutional priorities centered on student engagement, retention, and overall campus experience. She has also led numerous hiring processes and staff development initiatives, further strengthening the department’s culture and operational effectiveness. Prior to her appointment as Interim Director, she served as Deputy Director, Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), overseeing compliance and internal as well as external operations.
A highly accomplished coach, Mallet built a distinguished career leading multiple programs at Nichols. She is the winningest coach in the history of the field hockey program, guiding the Bison to eight conference tournament appearances, a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship in 2009, and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. That same year, Nichols hosted its first NCAA Championship event. She also led the team to multiple academic and competitive honors, including national academic recognition from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).
As head softball coach, Mallet earned 136 career victories, ranking second in program history. Across her tenure, she guided the Bison to seven postseason appearances and developed numerous All-Conference and Academic All-Conference student-athletes. Her commitment to excellence extended beyond competition, emphasizing the holistic development of her student-athletes.
Mallet has also contributed to the broader collegiate athletics landscape, serving on the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Regional Advisory Committee.
Before joining Nichols, Mallet spent 12 years in education in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she also achieved success coaching field hockey and softball at Cathedral High School, including a Western Massachusetts championship and state runner-up finish in softball. She also previously served as an assistant coach at Elms College.
A 1994 graduate of Springfield College, Mallet earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. She resides in Dudley, Massachusetts, and remains deeply committed to the mission of Nichols College and the continued growth of its athletics programs.
