Joan Howard was promoted to Associate Director of Athletics in August 2015, following six years as Assistant Director of Athletics focusing on compliance and business operations, and has since served as the Senior Woman Administrator since 2009. Prior to that, she had held coaching positions with the field hockey and softball teams at UNE.
Howard recently concluded a four-year term as a member on the NCAA Division III Softball Committee, representing and chairing the New England region.
Howard led the field hockey squad for three seasons (2007-09), ending with the program's most successful campaign, at the time, after the Nor'easters posted a 16-3 record and captured the 2009 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Championship. She was selected by her peers as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Coach of the Year that season, as Big Blue finished with a share of the regular-season title. Howard's teams went 28-23 overall (.549) but logged a .667 winning percentage in league play during her tenure.
Before that, Howard led the softball team to a 65-52 record (.556) in four seasons (2004-07) as head coach, including a 24-14 mark in 2007. She was chosen CCC Coach of the Year in 2005 and the team went 51-37 (.580) in league play under her guidance. Howard spent the preceding four years as the assistant coach of the program.
Howard is a graduate of Bridgewater State University [NCAA Division III], where she played four years of both softball and basketball, as well as two years of field hockey, while attaining a bachelor's degree in health and physical education. She was a four-year starter on the diamond, helping the Bears to a national tournament appearance. The basketball team also made a regional tournament during her time.
A native of Worcester, Mass. and resident of Biddeford, Howard holds a master's degree in athletic administration, health and physical education from Springfield College.
CCC Field Hockey Coach of the Year (2009)
CCC Softball Coach of the Year (2005)
Previous Coaching:
University of New England (2007-2009 Field Hockey)
University of New England (2004-2007 Softball)
(updated June 2016)
