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.
 
Under McDermott’s guidance, Harvard has enjoyed one of the most successful periods in Crimson history, while keeping an eye toward the future. In her short time in Cambridge, McDermott has focused on sustaining the Crimson’s success by creating Harvard Athletics’ first-ever strategic action plan, which includes a long-term vision for capital projects.

During her first year with the Crimson in 2020-21, McDermott successfully guided the department through the academic calendar without competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Harvard has made its mark on Division I athletics by winning Ivy League titles and national championships, helping it post the best LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup finishes in school history (No. 36 in 2021-22, No. 41 in 2022-23, No. 29 in 2023-24, No. 34 in 2024-25). The Crimson’s 2021-22 ranking in the Directors’ Cup standings was the school’s best since 1993-94.
 
McDermott also spearheaded the department’s NIL efforts with the launch of the One Crimson Exchange and oversaw the early stages of capital projects with upgrades to Bright-Landry Hockey Center and Harvard Stadium, and the completion of the Harvard Golf Indoor Practice Facility.

Well-respected by her peers in the collegiate athletic arena, McDermott served on numerous national committees. A member of NACDA, she sat on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) as well as on the Board of Directors for Women Leaders in Sports. While at the University of Chicago, McDermott was one of the recipients of the NACDA Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award. The award highlights the efforts of athletic directors, at all levels, for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses, and surrounding communities.

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 and was named the school’s top female senior scholar-athlete as a senior, graduating with a BBA in International Business. She also holds an MS in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.