HANOVER — Duncan Simpson has begun working in his new role as the first-ever director of the Kirsten and Eugene F. “Buddy” Teevens ’79 Center for Peak Performance at Dartmouth College.
The center was established in 2024, “to carry forward the legacy of Dartmouth’s beloved football coach and advocate for student mental health and well-being,” per the college’s website.
Mike Harrity, the college’s director of athletics and recreation, described the Teevens Center as a “cross-disciplinary research and programming hub with a mission focus on student well-being, leadership, and performance.”
The center has three focuses, or “pillars,” according to Harrity: Elevating the competitiveness of Dartmouth’s varsity athletics, extending aspects of Dartmouth’s Peak Performance program to all undergraduate students, and driving research and innovation in performance science.
“I’m incredibly honored to step into this role and hopefully do a small part to honor the legacy of Buddy Teevens,” said Simpson. “It’s really a dream opportunity for me personally and professionally, but honestly, it really isn’t about me, it’s hopefully about the impact that the Teevens Center can have on the Dartmouth students.”
Simpson has a background as an educator and researcher in academia, and has also gained business experience. He has worked directly with coaches and players, and spent the last eight years at IMG Academy in Florida, working at what he described as the intersection of sports psychology, leadership, and education.
“I hope to bring all of those experiences…into fruition at the Teevens Center,” Simpson said.
While all three areas of emphasis are essential to the center’s mission, Harrity and Simpson said that a particular focus early on is the second pillar — expanding the benefits of Dartmouth Peak Performance to the broader undergraduate body.
Buddy Teevens left a legacy that I think was bigger than football. We know that the center is going to stand for innovation … integrity, and the idea that you can be an elite athlete but ethical at the same time.
duncan simpson, director of the Kirsten and Eugene F. “Buddy” Teevens ’79 Center for Peak Performance at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Peak Performance is an initiative that was launched in 2011, “to help student-athletes achieve the highest levels of academic, athletic, and personal growth during their Dartmouth careers,” per the college’s website. The Teevens Center was established after he died in September 2023 from injuries suffered that spring when he was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle near his vacation home in Florida.
Harrity said that expanding parts of Dartmouth Peak Performance to help all students supports the college’s “Commitment to Care,” a strategic plan focused on student mental health and well-being, that was launched in 2023.
Simpson, who began work in July, said he is spending his early days on the job building relationships with and listening to students, coaches, and staff, and learning about what is already happening on campus.
“There’s so much great stuff currently happening at Dartmouth, and what I don’t want to do is stand up programming that becomes redundant and that competes with other great programming on campus,” Simpson said.
Simpson said Dartmouth Peak Performance has existing programming that could support many students, not just student-athletes.
“While none of it is concrete, we have identified specific groups that we think, hey, these are from just a pure — it just makes a lot of sense that these students would benefit from these programs,” he added.
One tentative project could be engaging with the college’s cycling and triathlon club on nutrition. Another potential program would focus on leadership training.
As for how the Teevens Center will attempt to elevate the Big Green’s competitiveness, the initial focus will be on identifying teams’ current obstacles to success.
“How can we gather what those problems are, understand them, and then put amazing human capital and researchers we have on campus to try and solve those problems,” Simpson said.
The research aspect of the Teevens Center “will help underpin and support pillars one and two,” said Simpson. He said the center’s work will be data-driven and will evaluate the effectiveness of the programming offered.
Harrity said the search to find the first director of the Teevens Center was a global one, and that the pool of candidates was “remarkable.” However, Harrity said Simpson stood out because of his knowledge, experience and his ability to communicate.
“Maybe most importantly, he’s really passionate about helping all students strive for peak performance and believes that sport provides a vehicle for supporting that growth and development,” Harrity said.
Simpson will report jointly to Harrity and Estevan Garcia, the chief health and wellness officer at the college.
“It’s an honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly,” said Simpson. “Buddy Teevens left a legacy that I think was bigger than football. We know that the center is going to stand for innovation because of him, integrity, and the idea that you can be an elite athlete but ethical at the same time, and that’s something that deeply resonates with me.”
