Four Questions for Caltech Athletic Director Terry Tumey

Credit: Sergio Solorzano

Terry Tumey, who joined Caltech in October 2025, brings with him professional experience as a college football player and coach, and as a college athletics administrator at NCAA Division I, II, and III schools, including UC Davis, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and, most recently, Fresno State. Here, we speak with Tumey about his first few months at the Institute and his vision for the Department of Athletics, Recreation, and Instruction (ARI).

1.Given your professional background, what made a return to Division III athletics, and at Caltech in particular, appealing for you?

The main reason I got into higher education was the investment in the experiences of students, which to me is extremely valuable and is an opportunity that I don’t take lightly. Where else can you do that at the purest form, which is at Division III and at Caltech? You can’t find a better place to really feel that sense of investment and that sense of worth, where I’m doing good work to really enhance the experience of people.

2. What have you learned about Caltech student-athletes?

They may be the most efficient people I’ve ever met in my life. I don’t know how they accomplish all that they do and perform at such a high level. They are excelling, of course, in research, in their classrooms, in their personal lives. Then to top it all off, they have the ability to achieve growth through competition. I have such an admiration and respect for our student-athletes because they are truly some of the best of the best as it relates to what you would expect of a student in a collegiate space.

3. Is there a particular encounter with a student-athlete that stands out?

I spoke to one of our swimmers, who was in the midst of applying to law school. She shared how she’s been able to navigate and feel completely supported within this community and by the array of individuals who have participated in her experience—not just coaches, though they’re a large part of it. She also has faculty members and administrators who are part of her team. Candidly, I’m hoping that I can be a part of her team as we move forward.

4. What do you envision for Caltech athletics and recreation in the next five years?

The biggest opportunity is to re-engage our community. I would begin right here with our Caltech population by creating open channels, such as surveys or a portal for commentary. Communication and response are key for a healthy relationship with our community. We also need to have a real understanding and appreciation from our surrounding community of what Caltech means to the city of Pasadena, to California, to those who come and engage with us. If that can be reflected in what we do here at ARI, that would be a great way to encapsulate the power of Caltech.