At the helm of the Wesleyan University athletics program is Mike Whalen ’83, the Frank V. Sica director of athletics and chair of physical education. Whalen, in his 16th year at Wesleyan and his 42nd in collegiate athletics, administers a broad-based sports program with a proud and successful history.
A former Cardinal football and wrestling standout, Whalen returned to Middletown in 2010 as head football coach and associate athletics director. Over five seasons, he revitalized the program—compiling a 26–14 record, twice achieving 7–1 finishes in 2013–14, and securing Wesleyan’s first Little Three football title in 43 years. In 2012 he transitioned fully into full-time administration and was named Director of Athletics in 2013.
Under Whalen’s leadership, Wesleyan Athletics has undergone a remarkable transformation. Chronologically, facility improvements began in fall 2013 with the dedication of Citrin Field, a new synthetic turf field adjacent to Andersen Track, enhancing football, soccer, and lacrosse experiences. The next major milestone came in 2021–22 with the extensive renovation and dedication of the Webster Family Natatorium, updating the natatorium’s pool systems, showers, filtration, and spectator areas.
Most recently, in summer 2024, construction of Hicks Field introduced a cutting-edge blue AstroTurf playing surface using carbon-zero, Poligras Paris GT Zero turf—the world’s first irrigation-free, climate-neutral hockey turf.
These strategic enhancements have helped fuel athletic excellence across the board. Since 2016–17, Wesleyan has ranked among the top 50 nationally in the Division III Learfield Directors’ Cup for six consecutive seasons. The Cardinals achieved their peak performance in 2018–19 with a historic 14th-place finish out of 338 schools, and in 2024–25 returned to elite form, securing 19th out of 431 institutions—only the program’s second-ever top-20 result.
Cardinal teams have matched facilities with results: men’s lacrosse (2018), women’s tennis (2019), and men’s crew (2024) all claimed national championships under Whalen’s tenure. Fall 2024 alone saw a record-breaking run—five teams in NCAA postseason play and a 12th-place seasonal Directors’ Cup fall ranking . Standout individual performances include Grace Devanny ’23, Wesleyan’s first NCAA indoor 400m champion, and Eudice Chong '18, the first four-time singles champion in NCAA history, alongside multiple All-Americans in a host of sports.
Off the field, Whalen’s philosophy—“academic and athletic excellence can go hand in hand”—has manifested in stellar classroom success, with four seniors inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in Spring 2025 and numerous scholar-athlete honors. His holistic vision also led to innovations such as the Athletic Mentoring Program, upgraded digital broadcasting, and “Take Flight”—a mental-health and wellness initiative launched with RADical Hope. These commitments earned him the Christopher W. Martin Award and culminated in his selection as NACDA Athletics Director of the Year in March 2025—the highest honor in the profession.
Under Whalen, Wesleyan Athletics now thrives on doctrine, on fields, and in national rankings—embodying a unified model of excellence where superior facilities, competitive performance, academic rigor, and community engagement flourish together.
