Beyond the Boards

By Joshua Sylvé

Michelle Filander Takes on New Role as Athletic Director

Photo by Nicholas Hummert

“Now that I have transitioned fully into this administrative position, I am enjoying interacting and building relationships with the athletes from all of our programs. There is great consistency in their drive and love of their sport; it is exciting to be around them every day, and they make it easy to not only cheer for them, but to work hard for them.”

— Michelle Filander
Austin College Athletic Director

Approaching the Austin College campus along Grand Avenue, a bright wave of alternating crimson and gold street pole banners guides visitors to the Wortham Center where they are welcomed for the first time. Nearing campus from the west along Brockett Street, guests are greeted by a massive banner hung across Jerry E. Apple Stadium, boldly  announcing that they have entered the “Home of the ’Roos.” These two perspectives of Austin College eventually intersect, bringing together those who are experiencing Austin College for the first time with those who’ve built the legacies that students dream of sharing.

Wilson Game Ball of 2020 SCAC Basketball ChampionshipsSitting at that intersection of a new beginning and legacy is Athletic Director Michelle Filander, who took the helm in July 2025 upon the retirement of long-time Athletic Director David Norman ’83, MA ’84. Filander is already a legend at Austin College, having served as Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director from 2010 to 2025. She led teams that brought home several championships as Head Women’s Basketball Coach, and in her role as Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman’s Administrator, she shaped the inner workings of Austin College Athletics. “As I managed the role of Assistant Athletic Director, I was able to get to know some of our student-athletes, but as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach, I was still very focused on my team,” says Filander. That’s where the new beginning comes in.

Her success in her previous roles means that she already knows Austin College Athletics well, but that doesn’t mean the new position is without a few new opportunities. “Now that I have transitioned fully into this administrative position, I am enjoying interacting and building relationships with the athletes from all of our programs,” Filander says. “There is great consistency in their drive and love of their sport; it is exciting to be around them every day, and they make it easy to not only cheer for them, but to work hard for them.”

Those relationships uniquely influence Filander’s vision for the future of the Athletics program, as she understands deeply that cheering for a student-athlete means supporting them on and off the court. Within the Athletics program, balancing the two pillars of academics and athletics is paramount to developing a positive student-athlete experience—and coaches seek to recruit students who will also excel in academics.“That conversation begins before the student-athlete even arrives on campus,” says Filander. “Our coaches work to find great fits for Austin College in the recruiting process, and the dialogue around balance and the Division III philosophy starts there and then continues throughout their career. Not only do we talk about it, but it anchors our processes as well; dates of competition, departure times, practice times are all scheduled with respect to the academic and holistic experience and are examples of how we live balance in a meaningful way.”

Filander encourages her staff and student-athletes to seek that balance and stay engaged across campus. She feels that athletics are a significant driver of belonging and ultimately encourage a tighter community across all arenas of the student experience, from sports to academics to student life. According to Filander, “As a small private college, we value our community and the relationships that sustain that inclusiveness. Athletics provides an excellent backdrop for these relationships to flourish, with friends supporting friends, faculty supporting students, and so on. It’s an environment that naturally fosters belonging and is incredibly beneficial for all of campus.”

As student-athletes progress through their studies and compete from season-to-season, they naturally progress from identifying as rookies to life-long friends, and, sometimes, even local legends. Individuals like Bryce Frank ’19 (who led the nation in double-doubles, earning the SCAC Player of the Year award—twice) and teams (like the 2020 Women’s Basketball Team which brought home the first conference championship in the program’s history) all attribute a degree of their success as student-athletes to Filander’s example.

The lives and careers of Austin College student-athletes have taken numerous post-graduation paths with the continued support and guidance of the faculty and staff. One shining example is Olivia Hunt ’17, MAT ’18. After many successes coaching teams around the region, she returned to Austin College as Head Women’s Basketball Coach, now leading the team she used to play with. Countless more alumni will undoubtedly look back with pride and gratitude, having Filander, the Austin College Athletics Department, and the might of ’RooNation in their rearview.