Staff
Chris Mitchell, Interim Director / Varsity Hunt Seat Coach
Chris Mitchell joined Albion College as hunt seat coach in September 2022 after serving as head coach of the Randolph College WildCats in Lynchburg, VA for seven years and, prior to that, a 13-year tenure at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Mitchell was named Interim Director of the Held Equestrian Center in November 2023.
Mitchell’s time at Randolph saw three National Qualifiers, including one National Champion and while at Cornell, he led many members to the regional and zone championships. His teams claimed 27 collegiate horse show team crowns, including four Ivy League titles. Mitchell led his team to a brand new level during the fall of 2011, guiding the group to six invitational titles in eight meets, already matching a school record for victories in a season (six show titles in 2003-04). Mitchell’s teams won a pair of shows (Skidmore, Hartwick) en route to a regional reserve champion showing in 2009-10. His 2010-11 team won its first-ever regular season regional championship after claiming four team blue ribbons during the season.
Prior to Cornell, Mitchell was previously an instructor and trainer at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y., and was the barn manager and trainer for Lion Hill Farm in Easton, CT. During that time, he also served as an equestrian instructor for Sacred Heart University and was an assistant coach and instructor at Pace University. He coached one of his riders to a national championship in walk-trot equitation at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition and had other riders place among the top 10 nationally in the novice flat, novice fences, intermediate fences and open levels.
Mitchell was a member of the NCAA steering committee for equestrian and is also a member of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), and a board member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). Most recently, he served as Director of Jumper Programs for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association.
He is a graduate of Longwood University in Farmville, VA, with a degree in business administration and marketing.
Contact Chris at [email protected].
Carolyn Killewald '04, Associate Director / Business Manager
Carolyn Killewald is a 2004 graduate of Albion College and holds a B.A. in English. She was previously employed as a magazine editor for a trade association in Jackson, MI before being hired at the Held Equestrian Center in August, 2008. Killewald’s role at the Held Center includes managing budgets for the facility and varsity teams, planning events and projects, marketing, recruitment, accounts receivables, purchasing, and serving as a liaison between the Center, students, community members, and faculty/staff of Albion College. Killewald has spent many years at the Held Center growing a successful jumper schooling show series, and she manages the planning and execution of these events.
A lifetime equestrian, Killewald competed in the U.S. Pony Club and eventually placed her focus on dressage. She has competition experience in eventing and USDF recognized dressage shows and regional championships. When not in the office, she can often be found pitching in with barn chores, working with her own horse or cheering on her daughter, who also rides at the Held Center. Killewald currently resides in Concord, MI with her family.
Contact Carolyn at [email protected].
Nichole McColley, Varsity Western Coach
Nichole McColley began coaching the western team at Albion in August 2024. She currently also serves as the coach for the McColley Equestrian Team along with her husband, Travis, which they have done since 2012.
The McColley Equestrian Team has achieved significant success at both IEA and YEDA competitions. They clinched the 2018 and 2020 YEDA National Champion Senior High Team titles, as well as claimed the 2019 YEDA Reserve National Championship Senior High Team. In addition to team success, they have coached numerous YEDA individual National and Reserve National Championship riders in horsemanship and ranch riding. Additionally, the team’s riders have secured IEA regional championships, high point championships, and national qualifiers.
Many of McColley’s riders have gone on to compete in NCAA and IHSA collegiate riding. In 2020, the senior high team made history by achieving the highest score to date at the YEDA National Championship show, triumphing by over 10 points.
McColley also operates McColley Quarter Horses with her husband at their home in Jonesville. There, she has helped riders and horses achieve significant success, including producing AQHA Level Three and Level Two World, Reserve and Bronze World champions, AQHA Congress and Reserve champions, AQHA Level One champions, PHBA World champions, and
numerous year-end high point champions.
Nichole holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology, as well as an associate’s degree in Equestrian Studies from the University of Findlay, where she competed on their IHSA equestrian team.
Beyond her equestrian pursuits, Nichole is a devoted mother to three boys and actively supports them in their sporting endeavors.
Contact Nichole at [email protected].
Devon Clute, Stable Manager
Contact Devon at [email protected].
Mary Kate Lippert, Assistant Stable Manager
Contact Mary Kate at [email protected].
Brandon Fuller, Grounds Manager
Brandon Fuller first began working in 2008 at the Held Equestrian Center working as a member of the part-time barn crew. In 2010, Fuller was promoted to the full-time position of assistant stable/grounds manager at the Center. He is responsible for maintaining the grounds and equipment at the facility, coordinating the hay baling operation, mowing and snow removal, and doing much of the general maintenance on the property. His experience working with and around horses is especially useful during much of his day-to-day work, and he often pitches in with barn chores and helps to drag and maintain the arenas.
Contact Brandon at [email protected].