Mitch Capelle returns to the Hilltop for the fall of 2023 as Associate Athletic Director, marking his second stint with the Hawks. Capelle had previously been a member of the athletics department from 2016-20.
Capelle departed the Hilltop in 2020 and spent three seasons (2020-23) as the Director of Athletics at Colby-Sawyer College in nearby New London, N.H., helping the Chargers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and the college's safe return to athletic competition following nearly 18 months without competition. Six Chargers teams earned Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships under Capelle's direction, including a school-best four championships in 2021-22.
Capelle's background in athletic communications/media relations also helped enhanced the publicity of the Chargers athletics programs, leading to strategic investments in the athletic communications office. Capelle also successfully secured the College's first NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Internship Grant which funded the Assistant Sports Information Director position. Capelle also secured the department’s first-ever apparel deal with BSN Sports/Under Armour and partnered with Blueframe/HUDL for online video streaming of more than 100 home athletic contests a year.
In his first go-around at Saint Anselm, Capelle served as a member of the department’s senior leadership team and oversaw external relations, athletic communications, marketing and branding for the college’s NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports and more than 450 student-athletes. He also oversaw the fitness center and serves as sport supervisor for the men's golf, men's lacrosse, men's soccer, women's lacrosse, women's soccer and volleyball programs.
During his first year on the Hilltop in 2016, Capelle spearheaded several key initiatives for the college including the reinstatement of the Athletic Hall of Fame after a 10-year hiatus. He coordinates the annual induction ceremony, in addition to serving on the selection committee. He also co-authored reports and presentations for the college’s Board of Trustees regarding the school’s exploration of Division III. He was also involved in the planning of a $3 million addition to the on-campus football, field hockey and lacrosse stadium.
Capelle has also led several key initiatives that resulted in increased revenue for the college. In 2017-18, in conjunction with the renovation of a Student-Athlete Academic Success Center, Capelle led a philanthropic effort that resulted in 100% student-athlete participation. He also coordinated the department’s inaugural Athletics Days of Giving fundraising effort, which resulted in 1,880 donors and more than $110,000 raised over the two-day campaign. He also negotiated the college’s first-ever licensing agreement with Exemplar Associates and served as the institution’s lead for formal licensing, branding and trademark approvals. Capelle also assisted in the launch of the department’s annual giving program, the Hawks Soar Higher Club, which included a comprehensive direct mail solicitation to 7,500 former student-athletes and current donors to the athletic department.
In 2018, Capelle assisted with the RFP for a new apparel and equipment provider that resulted in the college signing a multi-year agreement with Under Armour and BSN Sports. He was also instrumental in the launch of the department’s first e-commerce platform with Follett and Advanced Online (SaintAnselmSidelineStore.com).
He was also highly involved with the formation of the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA), a new league comprised of NCAA Division I and II women’s ice hockey sponsoring institutions and serves as the league’s sports information contact. He also served as the tournament director for the league’s inaugural championship tournament, hosted by Saint Anselm at Sullivan Arena and also serves as the league’s Associate Commissioner.
Prior to Saint Anselm, Capelle served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for eight years. At UWSP, Capelle was directly responsible for the daily operations of the athletics media relations office, in addition to serving as the primary administrative sport liaison for volleyball, men's hockey and softball. He served as the primary sports information contact for all 20 of the department's highly-successful athletics programs. Capelle also spent two years as Sports Information Director at Colby-Sawyer College from 2006-08.
Capelle has more than 20 years of experience in the sports information field, starting first as a student worker in the sports information department at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee. Next, he spent two years as the Assistant Sports Information Director at Lakeland College in Sheboygan before time at Colby-Sawyer and UWSP.
Capelle holds a B.A. in political science from Wisconsin Lutheran College and a M.S. in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University. He is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and previously served on the New Media/Technology Committee. He was also a member of the NCAA Division III Technology Users Group, the Division III men’s soccer RAC, and served on the Northeast-10's ad hoc committee to develop a digital streaming network and broadcast standards.
Outside work, Capelle volunteers with the Pinnardville Athletic Club and also recently served a term on the Alumni Council at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Capelle, a native of Medford, Wis., and his wife, Danielle, reside in Manchester with their daughters, Evelyn (11) and Eleanor (8).
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