As charter members of the Division III SUNYAC conference, the SUNY Potsdam Bears have a long history of competition. Our current intercollegiate teams include:
Basketball: Men’s & Women’s Teams
Cross Country: Men’s & Women’s Teams
Ice Hockey: Men’s & Women’s Teams
Lacrosse: Men’s & Women’s Teams
Soccer: Men’s & Women’s Teams
Softball: Women’s Team
Swimming & Diving: Men’s & Women’s Teams
Track & Field: Men’s & Women’s Teams
Volleyball: Men's & Women’s Teams
Interested in playing a division III sport at SUNY Potsdam?
A standout hockey player in her youth, Olivia Cook ’24 went on to achieve great success as a Division I athlete and make a significant impact in both her Mohawk community of Akwesasne and in remote First Nation communities throughout Canada. Now, she’s a leader at SUNY Potsdam as head coach of the women’s hockey team where she mentors student-athletes, while simultaneously completing her degree in public health.
One of the most talented athletes to ever play on the women’s basketball team, Jakia Howard ’24 wrapped up her final season with 1,192 points, third-most in the history of the program. She led the team with a career-high 17 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game this year—all despite sustaining a slew of injuries and illnesses over the past four years, including recently being diagnosed with Celiac disease.
Already back at SUNY Potsdam after the holiday break, the Potsdam Bears men’s basketball team spent the first week of the new year not only practicing for their upcoming games, but also volunteering in the community—leading a weeklong basketball clinic for more than 100 elementary students at Lawrence Avenue Elementary School.
As a young hockey player, Travis Crickard ’11 dreamed of one day becoming a head coach in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Years later, after completing his undergraduate degree at SUNY Potsdam, a master’s degree at the University of Ottawa, and working for numerous hockey organizations around Canada, he has reached his goal. Last year, Crickard landed a job as the head coach for the Saint John Sea Dogs, one of 60 junior hockey programs in the CHL that regularly funnels athletes directly into the NHL.
When Wilber Parada ’20 arrived at SUNY Potsdam his freshman year, he already had a vision for his future. His plans to one day become a Doctor of Physical Therapy would involve years of hard work, completing undergraduate and graduate degrees, and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination. Seven years later he has made his dream a reality. Parada is now working at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, one of the top-rated hospitals in the country, where he’s conducting research on exoskeletons and robotics, and helping to rehabilitate patients suffering from chronic illnesses.
After sustaining a season-ending ankle injury his sophomore year, followed by a concussion his junior year, Adam Kelley ’20 was told that he could no longer play competitive soccer. Despite the devastating news, his connection with soccer remained strong, and he remained on the sidelines to coach his peers. Now two years after graduation, he’s working as an assistant soccer coach at Clarkson University, and continuing to build on his years of experience as an athlete and leader on the field.
Experience a day in the life of Kiernan Morgan '22, A criminal justice major with a minor in business administration, and an athlete on the men’s volleyball team.
Jeffrey Schulz '20, who is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry, keeps very busy balancing his academic life with a leadership role on the men’s soccer team. He has been on the SUNYAC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and President's list three times and was awarded Coaches' MVP and Players' Player of the Year. Join us for a look back at a day in the life of Schulz.
Hannah Barrett '25 discusses how she fell in love with the campus, team, and community at SUNY Potsdam. She enrolled at the College with her sister, both of whom are student-athletes on the women's hockey team.
