Ready for anything

Who keeps Yale’s 17 athletics facilities running behind the scenes? Meet the trio managing the facilities, projects, crises, and game-day success.

How many people does it take to maintain 17 Yale athletic facilities?

Meet the three women leading the team that keeps Yale’s sports venues lush, painted, powered, and ready for game day. They work behind the scenes to ensure that fields, courts, and structures are clean, safe, and fully functional for coaches, athletes, and spectators.

Danielle Upham, senior associate athletic director, oversees all of Yale’s athletic facilities and operations for 35 varsity sports programs. Megan Lupini and Nadeige Holmes-Fountain report to her. Together, they oversee the day-to-day operations of the Yale Bowl, the Bowl’s Class of 1954 Field, Ingalls Rink, Tsai Lacrosse Field House, and many more. The trio coordinate the work of staff from Yale Athletics and the Office of Facilities.

Upham, Lupini, and Holmes-Fountain manage staff, budgets, and scheduling, and they must have knowledge of their buildings’ systems and spaces to resolve emergencies under pressure. They also serve as the primary contact for coaches, vendors, and other Yale departments.

“Our goal is to be invisible during a live event, and to make the site and all it encompasses — from the scoreboard to the bathrooms — work so smoothly that the only thing anyone notices is the action on the field,” Upham said.

While their job can be unpredictable, they can pivot at any moment.

“I think the biggest challenges we face, and the favorite part of my job, are the same, which is no two days are alike. You need to be prepared for everything,” Upham said.

At the helm

Upham and her team manage a wide variety of sites, including the 535,900-square-foot Payne Whitney Gymnasium (PWG), located in the heart of campus, three boathouses in Derby, Branford, and Gales Ferry, and the buildings, facilities, and fields that form the Yale Bowl complex.

Upham spends most days managing larger renovations and capital projects. Currently, that includes involvement with the Ray Tompkins House renovation, where most of Yale Athletics’ staff and coaches’ offices are located, and assisting Nadeige and Megan with upgrades to both the PWG fire alarm and the Ingalls Rink chiller systems.

With such a large portfolio, Upham relies on her team and campus partners to support weekly and game-day operations and emergencies. Her management philosophy is centered on ownership, accountability, and developing strong partnerships within the campus community.

“I’m lucky to have a great team, and I want them all to be successful. I make it a point to distribute facility responsibilities among them so that each person develops a deep expertise in their assigned venues,” Upham said.

“We are in the business of relationship-building,” Upham said. “Big shout-out to our incredible partners in Yale Facilities. It’s comforting to know that at 6 a.m. on game day, when the power goes out (yes, this has happened!), we have people to call who pick up the phone.”

In the field

Lupini, associate athletic director, manages 11 staff members and several facilities and grass fields, including Ingalls Rink, George H.W. Bush ‘48 Field, and Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center. Because of its size and use, she shares management of the Yale Bowl with Upham. Her team also handles rental contracts for internal and external users interested in using the athletic fields or venues.

While unexpected disruptions can occur at any time — such as equipment malfunctions, power outages, and weather-related issues — Lupini meets regularly with her staff to discuss issues that arise, especially after games or walk-throughs.

Her portfolio includes several large venues, but Ingalls Rink takes up most of her time. An ice facility requires constant readiness and technical upkeep during the hockey season.

“There are a lot of nuances to Ingalls, with the primary focus on the rink itself, such as the slab, making ice, and all the equipment needed to maintain it,” said Lupini. “Also, many groups like to rent that space out in advance, so a good chunk of time is spent on scheduling.”

Lupini places great value on building a positive work environment. “Given the sometimes-unpredictable nature of our work, having a team that willingly supports each other and comes together in an emergency is important,” she said. “No one can do what we do alone. I’m fortunate to have a dedicated staff that is a joy to work with.”

Career opportunities and growth

Holmes-Fountain, assistant athletic director, views her work as a perennial classroom with endless learning opportunities. She manages a defined portfolio of venues including the John J. Lee Amphitheater, Johnson Field, and Tsai Lacrosse Field House.

She regularly spends time at each facility to gain an understanding of their overall systems, schedule regular maintenance, and work with contractors and project managers, ensuring work orders are completed. In addition, she handles the intake of game-day contracts for all home and away games.

“Besides walking through the spaces frequently, assessing needs and hot ticket items, I also talk to our coaches to see if there is anything they need in their areas,” Holmes-Fountain said.

Other aspects of her role include keeping the Athletic Department’s master calendar of sporting events and logging all home and away game dates and times. She also manages the shuttle system that moves student athletes between PWG and the Yale Bowl complex.

“Each day is a balancing act between planned responsibilities and the unexpected,” said Holmes-Fountain. “I think one unique aspect of working in facilities is that there is no ceiling. There is always something more to do, to learn, or to engage in.”

On the sidelines, too

Upham, Lupini, and Holmes-Fountain also serve as sports administrators to specific teams. For Upham, it is men’s ice hockey and women’s lacrosse; for Lupini, men’s and women’s fencing; and for Holmes-Fountain, men’s and women’s tennis.

In this role, they work closely with the head coaches, providing support, overseeing team operations, advocating for needs, and attending practices and away games.

“When you travel with the team, you get a real understanding of their wants and needs,” said Lupini.

“We spend a lot of time with the coaches whose jobs are multifaceted. You get to build a strong and trusting bond with them,” said Holmes-Fountain. “They know we will do what it takes to get their programs to succeed.”