Vol. 5: Margaret M. Crook Center

The Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center

Vol. 5: Margaret M. Crook Center

The Margaret M. Crook Center is home to the Colby Volleyball, Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball programs. Featuring the Whitmore-Mitchell Court for varsity competition as well as a separate recreation court, the Center houses six retractable basketball nets in total, two courtside scoreboards and a Nevco 4-sided, center-hung scoreboard.

Overlooking the Whitmore-Mitchell Court, the inviting and multidimensional Hancock Room serves as a meeting space for teams to review film, hold study hall and host game-day events.

"College athletics contribute to student experiences is so many ways—learning discipline and teamwork, building character, pushing oneself to be the best one can, experiencing the highs of winning and the lows of losing—and coming back to do it all over again, for love of the sport!

And each of those create memories. When I think of Colby sports---as a fan, not an athlete—I think of the memories. The shots that won an ECAC championship or the tournament game against Bates, the goal that beat Bowdoin that ended the dreaded streak, the soccer save that preserved a NESCAC win, the touchdown against Bowdoin to bring us a winning season and a CBB title, the no-hitter in softball against Maine, my list goes on and on.

Those accomplishments and those memories need to be shared. And the Hancock Room is the perfect place for conversations and sharing. Overlooking the court named for Whit and Swish, Dick Whitmore and John Mitchell, iconic coaches of men’s basketball for more than four decades, the Hancock Room is the perfect place for Colby basketball and volleyball players, their parents and fans to recall past glories and to look forward to future ones. For those of us who have been at Colby a while, we enter the room thinking of all of the threes Matt Hancock '90 drained and the tenacious defense and leadership exhibited by Sarah Hancock '19, but for the whole Colby community this room is a place to come together to share in the excellent tradition and future of Colby sports."

- Sandy Maisel (deceased), former NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and Goldfarb Family Distinguished Professor of American Government

WATERVILLE, MAINE – DECEMBER 07: The Colby women’s basketball team faced off against Bowdoin College at the Margaret M. Crook Center in the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center on Saturday, December 7, 2024. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti)

Chenel Harris-Smith, Head Women's Basketball Coach

"The Harold Alfond Athletic and Recreation Center has played a meaningful role in the evolution of Colby Women’s Basketball. Having a dedicated, first-class space to practice and compete allows us to prepare our athletes at an elite level, day in and day out. The Margaret M. Crook Center feels like home for our program. It’s where our players put in the work, build confidence, and develop the habits that translate to success on the court. Over the years, training and competing in this environment has elevated our standard and, ultimately, our level of play. We are incredibly fortunate to compete in a space that reflects the excellence of our athletes and our institution."

Lindsay Johnson, Head Volleyball Coach

“I love the atmosphere of The Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center. The lighting is perfect for volleyball, bright but not blinding. The spaciousness of the Margaret M. Cook Center allows for us to set up three nets every day for practice. Having the room for three courts gives us the opportunity to train each position very specifically and gives us the efficiency we need to keep our practices moving without sacrificing reps for our players. There is nothing better than game day, though. Walking onto our home court, with the curtain down and both bleachers pulled out and filled with our amazing fans, there is not a more memorable moment. Our team will cherish those memories of our phenomenal campus support for the rest of their lives.”

WATERVILLE, MAINE – NOVEMBER 21: Colby College faced off against Suffolk University during their basketball game at the Whitmore-Mitchell Court in the Margaret M. Crook Center at the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center on Friday, November 21, 2025. The Mules defeated Rams 59-58. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti)

Sean Rutigliano, The Richard L. Whitmore Jr. Head Coach for Colby Men’s Basketball

“The Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center has been a game-changer for our program. Practicing and competing inside a facility of this caliber elevates everything we do on a daily basis, from our preparation and recovery to the overall experience for our student-athletes. The Margaret M. Crook Center reflects Colby College’s deep commitment to the student-athlete experience and our pursuit of excellence in everything we do. Competing in one of the top athletic facilities in the country is incredibly special for our team, and it provides a significant recruiting advantage by showing prospective student-athletes that Colby invests in innovation, performance, and holistic development.”