Fran Toland Retires as Senior Athletic Director

Senior Associate Director Fran Toland, who has worked for the Harvard Athletic Department for 41 years, has announced his retirement effective June 30.

Toland has been primarily responsible for managing the finances of the department, overseeing every aspect of Crimson athletics. Under his tenure, Harvard grew to contain the largest Division I program in America, with 41 varsity teams and 20 junior varsity teams.

During his term with the department, he has served under five of the six Harvard Athletic Directors, right up to William J. Cleary '56, who has held the job since 1990.

"How many wonderful memories of Harvard I'll take with me," said Toland. "There was football's 29-29 'win' over Yale; the honor of being in attendance to see national championships in men's hockey, women's lacrosse and women's hockey; the successful merger of Radcliffe athletics."

Harvard has not announced who will assume Toland's duties, preferring to focus on the impact he made on the department.

"Fran's retirement will be a loss for all of Harvard, not just the Athletic Department," Cleary said in a press release. "His financial stewardship has allowed us to do many great things, and he has quietly brought honor and dignity to our department. Through it all, Fran has always kept his vision that our primary purpose is the well-being of our student-athletes."