Mike Howard enters his tenth year as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation at Plattsburgh State in 2025-26. With decades of administrative and coaching experience, Howard continues to position Cardinal Athletics well within the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and NCAA Division III.
Howard is charged with overseeing the College's 18-sport varsity intercollegiate athletics program as well as its recreational programming and Fitness Center.
During his ten years at Plattsburgh State, Howard has overseen a department that has achieved success and progress in several areas. He added women's lacrosse to the department's varsity sports offerings; merged intercollegiate athletics and recreation and fitness into one department; oversaw the development and unveiling of new athletics marks as well as the subsequent rebranding of signage and apparel; began working with the Office of Institutional Advancement to create the annual Game on for Giving campaign, which has, to date, raised more than a $600,000 and received participation from thousands of people since its inception; oversaw the commencement of a $30 million renovation to Memorial Hall and a $2 million renovation to the Field House gym and indoor track; instituted an annual National Student-Athlete Day reception that has celebrated scholar-athletes and faculty alike; and increased sponsorship and marketing efforts. In addition, the Cardinals have won 10 team conference championships and two team NCAA Division III national championships under Howard's leadership.
Howard has lent his expertise beyond the SUNY Plattsburgh campus during his tenure as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation as well, as he served a two-year term as the chair of the SUNYAC Governing Body from 2018-20 and represented the Mideast Region on the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Committee, serving as the body's chair from 2021-23.
Prior to Plattsburgh State, Howard served as the Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation at St. Lawrence University for 19 years. In addition, Howard served as the director of the Saints' men's and women's cross country and track & field programs from 1988-2016.
As the Associate Director of Athletics, Howard's responsibilities included scheduling for St. Lawrence's 32 intercollegiate athletic programs, NCAA Division III compliance and eligibility for over 600 student-athletes and management of the main coaches' office complex overseeing head coaches and assistant coaches as well as assisting the Director of Athletics with personnel matters, enforcement of athletic policies, and organization of department, league, and NCAA gatherings.
As director of both the cross country and track & field teams at St. Lawrence, Howard grew the program into one of the premier programs in NCAA Division III, having coached 108 individual All-Americans, 11 individual national champions and six NCAA regional championship teams.
Howard was bestowed with numerous honors for his efforts at St. Lawrence, which include USA Track Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year 10 times and being named Liberty League Coach of the Year 25 times. In addition, Howard was elected as St. Lawrence's Student-Athlete Advisory Council Coach of the Year twice.
Howard earned his bachelor's degree in government and a master's degree in education, both at St. Lawrence.
