The Spaht Family Foundation has donated $5 million to endow a leadership position within Dartmouth’s Peak Performance program, according to an announcement from the college’s athletics department.
The gift from Holden Spaht ‘96, P’29 and Claire Spaht P’29 will create the permanent position of Executive Associate Athletics Director for Dartmouth Peak Performance (DP2), the college’s comprehensive program focused on student-athlete physical and mental health, mental performance, and personal growth.
“Claire and I are grateful for the opportunity to invest in a role that supports critical student-athlete needs including their mental health and well-being,” Holden Spaht said in the announcement. “As a former Dartmouth student-athlete, I understand the value of an all-encompassing approach like DP2 and how much the Dartmouth community at large stands to benefit from it.”
Austin Driggers, who joined Dartmouth’s Department of Athletics and Recreation in 2024, will hold the newly endowed title, according to the athletics department. Driggers previously served as Senior Director for Performance Science with the Kansas City Royals and has worked with Major League Baseball, the NCAA, and U.S. Olympic training programs.
The 2012 Wheaton College graduate, where he played football and baseball, holds a master’s degree in sport physiology and performance from East Tennessee State University and a PhD in health and human performance from Concordia University Chicago, according to the announcement.
Holden Spaht captained Dartmouth’s varsity men’s tennis team during his senior year and now works as a managing partner at Thoma Bravo, a private equity and growth capital firm. He and Claire live in San Francisco with their two daughters: Eliza, who attends Washington and Lee University, and Peyton, a member of Dartmouth’s Class of 2029.
The endowed position will work closely with the Kirsten and Eugene F. “Buddy” Teevens ‘79 Center for Peak Performance, which functions as an interdisciplinary hub for research and programming focused on student well-being, leadership, and performance, according to the athletics department.
The Teevens Center operates on three core pillars: elevating Dartmouth’s varsity athletics competitiveness, extending DP2 elements to all undergraduates, and driving research and innovation in performance science, according to the announcement.
Driggers will collaborate with the Teevens Center director to extend select DP2 components—leadership development, nutrition, and mental wellness and performance—to any undergraduate who chooses to participate, according to the athletics department. These programs support resilience, leadership skills, and physical and mental health as part of Dartmouth’s Commitment to Care initiative.
“Dartmouth Peak Performance has been a national leader in reimagining how we support student-athletes, not only prioritizing competitive excellence but also holistic growth, leadership, and well-being,” said Mike Harrity, Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation.
The athletics department has expanded significantly in recent years, adding several new positions including Director of Sports Nutrition, a Post-Doctoral Fellow for Sport and Counseling Psychology, a Program Manager for Sports Data and Analytics, three strength and conditioning coaches including a Director of Olympic Strength and Conditioning, and three full-time Athletic Training staff members, according to Harrity. The department is also conducting a search for a Director of Student-Athlete Professional Development.
The Spaht family will be honored as members of the Founders Circle for the Teevens Center in recognition of their contribution, according to the athletics department.
