Yale President Maurie McInnis today announced the reappointment of Vicky Chun as the Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics. The renewal extends Chun's term through June 30, 2031.
"I am reappointing Vicky because of the successes achieved in the athletics department under her leadership over the past eight years," McInnis wrote in a message to the Yale Athletics community. "My decision is the result of an extensive review process that has spanned the past several months. All head coaches and senior staff members were invited to participate in confidential conversations with external reviewers. Numerous coaches, staff, students, alumni, and community members shared their comments and assessments with me directly, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to offer their feedback.
"I have shared with Vicky the main themes that have emerged from this review process, so that in addition to affirming her tenure's accomplishments, she can continuously strengthen Yale Athletics."
McInnis said it was clear from the majority of the comments received, as well as from the athletics department's record, that "much has been accomplished since Vicky's arrival."
Although Yale's student-athletes and coaches "have achieved too much to list in a single message," McInnis wrote, "some of the most sustained success has included Yale football winning four Ivy League championships since 2019 and securing the first NCAA FCS [Football Championship Subdivision] playoff victory in Ivy League history; women's volleyball winning three consecutive Ivy League regular-season titles and earning three straight NCAA tournament appearances (2022, 2023, 2024); and men's basketball winning five Ivy League regular-season championships since 2018."
Several other teams also achieved "historic breakthroughs," she noted:
Field hockey made its first NCAA tournament appearance in school history in 2025. Women's ice hockey reached the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in program history in 2022 and won its second Eastern College Athletic Conference regular-season championship in 2026. Softball won the Ivy League regular-season championship in 2024 for the first time since 1993. Men's tennis made its first NCAA team tournament appearance since 1977, and women's tennis earned its first Ivy League title in over a decade in 2026. Baseball won back-to-back Ivy League regular-season championships and returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017. Women's lacrosse won two outright Ivy League regular-season championships (2024, 2026), two Ivy League Women's Lacrosse Tournament titles (2024, 2025), back-to-back NCAA quarterfinal appearances (2024, 2025), and a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance in 2026. And in 2023, men's soccer won the inaugural Ivy League tournament championship.
"These victories reflect the dedication of our student-athletes and coaches, alongside the support that Vicky and the Yale Athletics team have provided," the president wrote.
Carol McPhillips Roberts '81, a standout Yale field hockey and softball player and winner of the George H.W. Bush Lifetime of Leadership Award, called Yale Athletics "a vital embodiment of our university's drive for excellence" and said that "this reappointment ensures our programs continue to be led by a proven leader who has a clear vision for success."
Roberts added that Chun's "investments in world-class coaches, staff, and top-tier facilities have built a highly competitive environment where our teams and student athletes can thrive, develop, and excel. As an alumna, I take immense pride in our athletic program and couldn't be more pleased with Director Chun's reappointment."
Former Yale tennis captain Donald Dell '60, also a Lifetime of Leadership Award winner, shared a similar sentiment: "Vicky's track record speaks for itself. She is a proven winner of Yale Athletic teams and a strong people person as well."
Brian Hamm, the Fay Vincent '31 Head Coach of Baseball, underscored the human theme.
"In the changing landscape of Division I athletics, Vicky has created a culture where people are supported, inspired, and united in the pursuit of excellence," he said. "Under her leadership, Yale Athletics has become a place where student-athletes can pursue championships while receiving a world-class education, an experience that is becoming increasingly rare for student-athletes nationwide. Vicky has elevated the profile of Yale Athletics by never losing sight of what makes Yale special - our people."
In her message, McInnis additionally highlighted a series of facilities improvements during Chun's tenure to date.
"With the help of Yale alumni, Vicky has led a series of capital projects that have enhanced the student-athlete experience while also serving the thousands of members of the Yale and New Haven communities who utilize our facilities each year," the president wrote.
She cited the renovation of Lapham Field House; the restoration and exterior improvements to the historic George H. W. Bush '48 Field; the restoration of the Yale Golf Course; the renovation of the Kiphuth Pool locker rooms and the Yale fencing salon; numerous playing surface upgrades; videoboard installations and venue enhancements across nearly every athletics facility; and significant upgrades to the recreational spaces within Payne Whitney Gymnasium.
"Just as crucial to our student-athletes' flourishing is their physical and mental well-being," McInnis wrote. "Under Vicky, the athletics team has significantly enhanced staffing and organizational structures in athletic medicine and strength and conditioning. They have integrated these areas under a unified sports performance model that prioritizes a holistic approach to student-athlete health and wellness. This commitment has also included embedding a dedicated mental health counselor within Yale Athletics, expanding access to mental health support."
For Chun, however, "the ultimate metric of student-athlete success," McInnis wrote, "is empowerment."
The Athletics team has revitalized the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the president said, "transforming it into an organization with markedly increased representation at both the conference and national levels."
She continued: "SAAC has also launched a student-athlete mental health initiative focused on reducing stigma, increasing awareness, and strengthening advocacy around mental health and well-being. And believing that the best use of agency is giving back, they have established community engagement efforts through SAAC and Yale Bulldogs for Change, resulting in the delivery of more than 500 care packages to communities in need across New Haven since 2023."
Yale SAAC has also created a pen pal program with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven, according to the message, "fostering meaningful connections between student-athletes and local youth."
"As our student-athletes have impressively demonstrated, success is the outcome of collaboration and a commitment to improvement," McInnis said. "Vicky has led Yale Athletics in partnership with our outstanding coaches, student-athletes, and staff, along with the advice and support of the Faculty Committee on Athletics, the deans of Yale College, alumni and donors, and others in our community. Vicky and I both want to acknowledge our deep appreciation for all these groups."
In the message, McInnis also said that, to further support alumni and donors, the offices in Athletics responsible for alumni and donor relations will work more closely with the university's central Office of Alumni Affairs and Development through a joint appointment.
"Yale is extraordinarily fortunate to have active and devoted alumni and donors," McInnis said. "Vicky and I look forward to continuing to work together to deepen and advance these relationships in furtherance of Yale Athletics."
The president also said that "the achievement that Vicky has fostered during her time at the helm of Yale Athletics affirms her leadership and her reappointment. I extend my appreciation to all at Yale and beyond who care deeply about Yale Athletics and have invested themselves in its success. I thank Vicky for what she and her staff have accomplished, and I look forward to an even brighter future for the Bulldogs."
Mark Bolding, the Susan Cavanagh Head Coach of Women's Hockey, who called Chun's reappointment "fantastic news for Yale and Yale Athletics," can see it already.
"Vicky's presence, leadership, and support have been unwavering since I began coaching here in 2019," he said. "Her commitment to this department and our women's hockey team has allowed our program to improve, develop, and flourish, while supporting what is best for our student-athletes. Vicky has allowed me to make the changes and important decisions necessary to turn our program into a successful and results-driven team. Her mentorship, support, and trust in me as a head coach have resulted in Yale Women's Hockey reaching the NCAA Frozen Four in 2022, and two other NCAA tournament appearances in the past five seasons. I am excited for her to continue to lead Yale Athletics into the future."
