The 2024-25 season will mark Donald Dutcher's 20th season as the Director of Athletics at Herkimer College.

 

Dutcher is also the college's Dean of Students, a position he has served in since 2019.

 

Dutcher took over as director just as Wehrum Stadium opened as one of the premier community college athletic venues in the nation. Since its opening in July 2005, Under Dutcher's leadership, the operation of Wehrum Stadium has been host to multiple high school and collegiate championship events. Other achievements have included the implementation of the Green and Gold Club, Adopt a School program, and numerous improvements to the College's athletic website, including an emphasis on updated information, media guides, photos and photo albums.

Since Donald Dutcher's arrival at Herkimer College, the athletic program has emerged as one of the top junior college athletic programs in the country. In his 20 years as director, Herkimer has won 33 national championships, 55 regional championships, 78 conference championships and eight NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year awards. The college also placed first nationally amongst non-scholarship Division III community college athletic programs in the NATYCAA Cup in 2014, 2015, and 2017. The Generals earned second place finishes in 2008, 2010 and 2011; third place finishes in 2006, 2007, 2012 and 2013 and a fifth place finish in 2009. The NATYCAA Cup is an award given annually to recognize overall athletic program excellence in both regional and national competition.

In supporting the mission of the college, Dutcher is committed to providing students a quality athletic experience as an integral and valued component of their total educational experience. Under Dutcher's leadership, Herkimer's student-athletes have continued to excel in the classroom. Herkimer has earned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year awards and Academic All-Region awards. Additionally, many student-athletes were named Academic All-Americans, Distinguished All-Americans and have received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Athlete Excellence.

Dutcher served as president of the Mountain Valley Conference (2005-2015), chairman of the Region III Board of Directors (2012-2015) and assistant women's Regional Director (2012-2015). He’s currently chair of the NJCAA and Region III Women’s Lacrosse, and a member of the Region III Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Swimming & Diving and Track & Field (I&O) Standards and Ethics Committees. He also chairs the Herkimer College Intercollegiate Athletic Council. In 2009 he graduated from Leadership Mohawk Valley. Dutcher was chosen Region III Athletic Director of the year in 2008, 2010 and again in 2019 by his peers and just received the Distinguished Service Award for SUNY IT through their alumni association.

Dutcher previously was a teacher, soccer coach, basketball coach, baseball coach and athletic director at Poland Central School. Prior to that, he taught at Herkimer High School and coached men's and women's soccer, basketball, track and tennis. He was named Mohawk Valley Coach of the Year in 2004 for leading Poland Central's basketball team to the State Final Four. In 2003, he was inducted into the SUNY IT Hall of Fame as recognition for his athletic accomplishments.

A 1990 graduate of Herkimer College, Dutcher was the all-time leading scorer for the men's soccer team, an honor which he held for six years. He was a member of the first-ever team to make the national tournament, and received All-Region honors both years. He earned a bachelor's degrees from SUNY IT, where he was also the all-time leading scorer for the soccer team, and SUC at Oswego. He also holds a master's degree and Certificate of Advanced Study from SUC at Cortland.

A native of Poland, NY, Dutcher is a 1988 graduate of Poland Central School. He is a proud father of his two boys Jordan and Jesse, and currently resides in Marcy, NY with his wife Nicole and her three children Isabella, Dominick and Benjamin.