Hall of Fame
LINDA HOPPLE, Middle Atlantic Conference
Executive Director – 1993-2000
Linda Hopple served as the MAC Executive Director from 1993-2000. During her term, she oversaw two major changes for the conference. With the departure of 10 conference member in 1993 (schools now in the Centennial Conference), she successfully kept the remaining 16 institutions together and forged a new conference structure with the Commonwealth and Freedom Leagues (now MAC Commonwealth and MAC Freedom).
Hopple’s greatest contribution to the conference grew out of the NCAA Division III move to conference automatic qualification to its championship events. The two MAC leagues applied for and were granted three conference automatic qualifications commencing in 2000. The umbrella conference structure is unique to the NCAA and has served the MAC over two decades.
Hopple also served as Associate Director of Athletics at Franklin & Marshall College (1980-93) and was a three-sport athlete in field hockey, tennis and basketball at Elizabethtown College. At Elizabethtown College, she was the first woman to be named to the Elizabethtown College Hall of Fame. As a member of the 1961 undefeated and unscored-upon field hockey team, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame a second time. She continues to hold the record of averaging two goals scored per game during her collegiate field hockey career.