Among the greatest misnomers about athletics is that the results can be quantified. Certainly there are scoreboards. One team produces more points than the other, one team wins, and one team raises a trophy at the end of the season.
However, when you have been personally engaged in such endeavors throughout four-plus decades as Cathy Haker was during her tenure as the Athletics Director at The College Saint Rose, the wins and losses within the competition realm only serve as an outline for her storied career.
“Undoubtedly the moment our women’s soccer team won a national champion in 2011, especially with them being on the precipice of that for several years, Brandon Birchak winning a pair of diving championships in 2007, and the many national championship competitions we have qualified for are among my fondest memories, said Haker. “However, I’ll always really cherish the honest and the innumerable hard-working people I was surrounded by.”
A native of Delmar, New York, Haker was a standout on the field hockey, women’s basketball, and women’s lacrosse teams at Hartwick College. She had a deep aquatics background and was encouraged to apply for the women’s basketball coaching position soon after she graduated from there.
“I am so thankful for the tremendous opportunity that Saint Rose offered me as a young professional fresh out of college. Little did I know at the time that I would spend my entire career at the College, with the ability and the support to grow an athletics program in so many ways,” said Haker at the time of her retirement in June of 2019.
“Cathy Haker grew the athletics program from infancy to a vibrant, competitive NCAA Division II member. Her legacy will impact every student athlete, coach and administrator who follow. She dedicated her entire professional life to Saint Rose, and I could not be more grateful for having the opportunity to work with her for a part of it. She is a great professional and a wonderful person,” said Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Karen Haag.
Much has changed at Saint Rose since Haker started out as the women’s basketball coach, including the nickname. The “Saints” served as the moniker before “Golden Knights” was adopted following a special student election. In addition, the campus did not have a gym and so the men’s and women’s basketball teams had to figure out where to play and practice.
Regardless, her 1981 team qualified for the New York State Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Championship in its first year of membership.
She added that that was only part of the story. “I’ll always remember that as quite an accomplishment. However, what I was really proud of was how my five seniors all graduated with honors. I have always been an optimist, but that graduation day really solidified my belief that if you are good person and work hard, then good things will come your way.”
Many good things have happened to Golden Knights athletics since then. The expansion of the athletics program from membership in the regional Northeastern Athletic Conference (NAC), to national affiliation with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Haker also directed the College’s transition into the NCAA, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the East Coast Conference (formerly the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference) and played a vital role in the College's successful bid for membership into the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10) in 2000.
“I always believed that we could do great things here and the growth of the athletics department and the College serves as a testament to that, but again I was lucky. Having successful teams is great, expanding our facilities and our intercollegiate programming is vital for the College to sustain growth, but our ability to impact young people is paramount to our mission.”
Haker cherishes the opportunity she has had to help students succeed. She said she was fortunate to be in a position where she could help students overcome challenges that are bound to come the way of any young person who may be on their own for the first time.
“It’s an indescribable feeling when an alum would walk into your office and says thank you for helping them. I’ve had many who have had to leave school for one reason or another, but ultimately graduated and gone on to have meaningful lives,” recalled Haker.
These days she is enjoying her time by taking advantage of being a new grandmother, catching up with some friends and doing some work around her house, while not being bound by an alarm clock. Haker says she plans on seeing the Golden Knights in action where she’ll still have the opportunity to provide advice and make an impact on the people there.
Cathy Haker Links of Note:
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
