In sports, timing is critical. The well-executed play, the bold move, the perfect cut. It all has to come at just the right moment. But sometimes in sports, and life in general, the timing for certain events will catch people off-guard. That could be said of the announcement of the retirement of Dickinson’s longtime director of athletics, Dr. Les Poolman.

Many were aware that the day would soon be coming, and maybe soon, but when the news was announced, there was still a sense of shock. For Les, though, the timing was right.

While many athletic departments struggle with allegations, violations and controversy, that is surely not, and has never been, the environment that Les has cultivated at Dickinson. To the contrary, the athletics department at Dickinson, and the environment in which it lives, is as strong as it has ever been. Les leaves behind one of the best contingents of coaches in the country, along with a dedicated and highly qualified support staff.

This is one of the primary reasons that he felt this is the time to make this transition, both for himself and the college. Les’s tireless passion—not only for the athletics department but for the college, students, coaches, staff and alumni—has helped make Dickinson what it is today, and the strength he leaves behind will smooth the transition to his successor. And as big as those shoes will be to fill, whoever follows in those footsteps can be sure he or she is facing in the right direction.

When his colleagues were asked to comment on his retirement, they hit on a few underlying themes consistently. Les is regarded as a consummate professional who is always fair, compassionate and willing to lend a hand or simple advice. So many people consider him a mentor, from both the places he’s worked as well as opposing schools. His leadership and vision have also played a major role in the development and ever-growing success of the Centennial Conference and its member institutions.

Arriving at Dickinson in 1988 from a similar position at Mount Holyoke College, Les has served nearly three decades as the head athletics administrator, overseeing the most successful years in Dickinson athletics history. This is evidenced by a pair of national champions in track & field, 48 Centennial Conference championships in 12 different sports, postseason championship play in 18 sports and a national ranking of 41 out of 450 Division III schools in the 2013-14 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, a nine-place improvement from the previous season.

Over the course of his time here, Les has worked ardently to support Dickinson’s intercollegiate teams by securing additional coaching and athletic training support, and he also oversaw the addition of three varsity teams, including women’s golf and, most recently, men’s and women’s squash.

It should be noted that Les’ work has truly traversed the campus, as he has served on numerous committees, including the Student Wellness Advisory Group, Title IX Committee, President’s Commission for Women, McAndrews Fund for Athletics Committee, Hillel Advisory Board and several all-college committees and search committees. Additionally, he has served as chair of the Sports Hall of Fame Committee during his tenure, allowing him to continue lifelong friendships with scores of former student-athletes. In his role as an educator, Les has taught numerous physical education classes and three First-Year Seminars. He also eagerly took on Dickinson’s mantra of global engagement by participating in several summer sessions in England and South America with faculty and students, as well as a number of spring break trips.

Over his years at Dickinson, Les has taken a leadership role in the construction or renovation of many athletic facilities, including the massive undertaking of establishing the 19-acre Dickinson Park, which became home to a softball field, MacPhail Baseball Field and Phyllis Joan Miller Memorial Soccer Field. Additionally, he was instrumental in the renovation of the Biddle Field complex, which encompassed a new turf field for football and lacrosse, an additional turf field for field hockey, renovated stands and, of course, the state-of-the-art Durden Athletic Training Center.

The crowning jewel of Les’ time at Dickinson is the newly opened Kline Fitness Center and its squash courts. His continuing assertions that the new fitness center be a place for everyone to enjoy—not just athletes—to come together demonstrates his desire to instill the importance of healthy lifestyles in all of our students and the entire campus community.

Les also has taken a leadership role in the evolving world of Division III college athletics. An active member of the NCAA leadership at the national level, Les has served on several committees and most notably as a member of the NCAA Division III Management Council, which is responsible for oversight of all Division III operations.

But perhaps Les is best known as the “Red Devils supporter-in-chief.” Not only has he attended countless Dickinson contests over the years, both at home and as far away as Florida, but he also has suited up as coach several times, including serving as the women’s tennis coach in 1988-90, men’s soccer coach in 1992-94 and as the interim men’s and women’s squash coach while preparing for the inaugural season in that sport.

He is a mentor to legions of Dickinson students; a committed ambassador for the college to families, prospective students, alumni and the local community at large; and a devoted colleague and friend to faculty and staff past and present.

PHOTOS | Dr. Les Poolman, Director of Athletics (1988-2015)

VIDEO | RDSN: Dr. Les Poolman - Director of Athletics

VIDEO | Thank you message from Dr. Les Poolman