BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League has announced the hiring of Patrick Colbert as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer. Colbert arrives at the League office after serving two years as Commissioner of the Conference of New England (CNE).
In his new role, Colbert will work closely with Patriot League Commissioner Jennifer Heppel to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight in the development and execution of League strategy. Colbert will be responsible for streamlining internal operations and fostering collaboration across all functions of the League office, including championships and sports management, external affairs, engagement initiatives and organizational leadership.
“We are thrilled to welcome Patrick Colbert to the Patriot League,” Heppel said. “Patrick’s distinctive blend of Division I conference office expertise and commissioner-level leadership at Division III, uniquely positions him to elevate our operations and drive our strategic vision forward. He has demonstrated his ability to lead with purpose, modernize governance structures, and strengthen the student-athlete experience. We are excited for the immediate and lasting impact Patrick will have on our student-athletes, coaches, and institutions.”
“I am honored and privileged to be granted the opportunity to serve one of the most prestigious memberships in all of intercollegiate athletics,” Colbert said. “It was evident through this process that there was a philosophical alignment that demonstrated a shared commitment toward providing a comprehensive student-athlete experience while maintaining the League’s identity as a leader in integrating a rigorous academic experience with a premier competitive environment. I want to thank Commissioner Heppel for her support and trust, and I am ecstatic to work alongside her as a thought partner and collaborate with an incredibly talented Patriot League staff.”
For two years, Colbert served as Commissioner of the NCAA DIII’s Conference of New England. He worked with the Conference’s Board of Directors to rebrand to the CNE, changing the name from the Commonwealth Coast Conference and introducing a new logo, while recognizing and celebrating the Conference’s first 40 years. Colbert implemented a new operating and governance structure, forming committees focused on student-athlete development, sport administration, championships and sports medicine. He also identified opportunities to sponsor additional sports, with the CNE adding women’s golf for the 2025-26 season and men’s volleyball for the 2026-27 season.
Prior to his work with the CNE, Colbert served as Deputy Commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). At the WAC, he was the Conference’s chief operating officer and primary administrator to the athletics directors. He oversaw all internal operations, helping lead office relocation efforts from Colorado to Texas. Colbert also worked with the Commissioner and conference leadership to enhance the television coverage opportunities with the conference’s broadcasting partner, ESPN.
Colbert spent more than nine years at the American Athletic Conference, rising to Assistant Commissioner of Sport Administration and Championships, where he served as the Tournament manager for the League’s men’s and women’s basketball tournaments at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. He was also the lead conference office sport administrator for men’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s lacrosse and softball.
He was a four-year men’s soccer student-athlete at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., where he earned a B.S. in sport management. Colbert also earned his M.S. in sports leadership from Northeastern University.
Colbert, a native of Medfield, Mass., lives with his wife, Lindsay, and their three daughters, Brooke, Paige and Reese.
The Patriot League partnered with SP Athletics to assist in a national search for the position of Deputy Commissioner/Chief Operating Officer. Snodgrass Partners was founded in 2001 as an Executive Search and Consulting Firm. The Sports Division of Snodgrass Partners was founded in 2016. In 2022, the firm rebranded itself as SP Athletics to reflect the core focus of its business more accurately. Since the founding of the sports division, SP Athletics has been involved in multiple search partnerships and consulting projects within college athletics and within the tennis industry
(click here for more information regarding SP Athletics).
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.