Hall of Famer
"To be recognized nationally is a significant thing. I think, over the years, Holyoke Community College has become known nationally because of all we’ve done with the NJCAA.” – HCC Athletic Director Tommy Stewart
Thomas “Tommy” Stewart, Holyoke Community College director of athletics, has been inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
He was enshrined as a member of Hall of Fame’s class of 2026 during a March 5 ceremony at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, site of the NJCAA Track and Field Championship, where he served as meet director.
Stewart, a resident of Westfield and a graduate of Westfield State University, has served on the NJCAA Track and Field Committee for 20 years, but he has been involved with the NJCAA in various roles for 25 years.
“To be recognized nationally is a significant thing,” Stewart said. “I think, over the years, Holyoke Community College has become known nationally because of all we’ve done with the NJCAA.”
Stewart has worked in college athletics for more than 37 years, the past 30 at HCC. During that time, HCC has hosted nine NJCAA national cross-country championships and one national track and field championship.
“His long-standing dedication, administrative excellence and commitment to student-athletes is evident throughout his career,” the NJCAA said in Stewart’s induction announcement.
Representing 550 schools, the NJCAA is the largest athletic association for two-year colleges in the United States. HCC belongs to Region 21 and its athletic teams play in Division III.
At HCC, Stewart oversees nine intercollegiate sports programs and manages the David Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation. He also serves on the NJCAA Board of Regents as the representative for Region 21. He chairs the NJCAA Division III Men's Golf Committee and the NJCAA Division III Women's Golf Committee while also serving on the NJCAA Track and Field Committee. In 2016, he was elected second vice president for the NJCAA's men's division. In that role, he oversaw the complete budgetary activity of the association. He has also previously served as co-chair of the NJCAA finance and budget committee.
“This is my 25th anniversary with the NJCAA. I’ve had a good run and a wonderful career,” said Stewart, who is planning to retire from HCC in 2027. “I’ve interacted with a lot of different people across the country at different institutions. Our HCC teams have won titles. We’ve had great athletes. Great kids. All-American players. I’m very lucky to do what I do, and it’s good to be winding down. At some point, you’ve got to pass the baton to somebody else.”
In May 2024, Stewart received the NJCAA’s George E. Killian Award of Excellence, the highest award bestowed each year by the association, the first recipient from any college in New England.
Stewart started his career in higher education at Westfield State University, where he worked for seven years as student activities administrator and director of intramurals and coached cross country. He was hired at HCC in 1996 as student activities director and became assistant athletic director in 1999 and athletic director in 2007.
In October 2023, he was inducted into the Westfield State University Athletics Hall of Fame. As an undergraduate there, Stewart was a four-year member of the WSU Owls cross country and track and field teams. An all-conference runner in 1985 and 1987 in cross country, he won the Westfield State Invitational and was an all-New England runner in steeplechase his sophomore year. The WSU cross country and track teams won conference titles all four years he was on the team.
PHOTO: HCC Athletic Director, and now NJCAA Hall of Famer, Tommy Stewart, in the eSports room at the Bartley Athletic Center.
