Todd Mansfield

"I knew I had to be involved and give the students the best experience in a sport that has been very good to my family."

A Full Circle Journey 

There is a rare continuity when a coach returns to lead the same program that shaped his own journey as a student-athlete. For Norwich University’s head rifle coach, that continuity is both personal and powerful.

An alumnus who arrived on campus as a freshman in 1998, the same season that Norwich hosted the 1999 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Rifle Championships on campus, he now directs a program built on tradition, opportunity, and competitive excellence.

His path back to NU was not scripted. Coaching was never part of his long-term plan. But when Rifle was reinstated as an NCAA sport at Norwich, the pull was immediate. “I knew I had to be involved and give the students the best experience in a sport that has been very good to my family,” he said. That sense of stewardship now defines his leadership as an alumnus investing in the next generation with the same care and accountability that once guided him.

The Power of the Division III Experience

As a Division III student-athlete, he competed at the highest levels of collegiate rifle, regularly facing Division I and II programs, Olympic athletes, and World Cup competitors. “I could be and was just as good as everyone else I was competing against,” he said. That competitive confidence remains central to the program’s identity today, reinforcing Norwich’s belief that excellence is earned through preparation, discipline, and belief — not labels.

His student-athlete experience proved transformative both personally and professionally. “I probably would not have completed college without having a sport to keep me on track,” he reflected. That understanding now shapes his holistic approach to coaching, prioritizing academic accountability, time management, and long-term development alongside competitive success.

National Milestones, Family Legacy

His collegiate career reached a national milestone in 2002 when he qualified fifth in the country and competed at the NCAA Championships, finishing 13th overall. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of his sister, making them the second set of siblings in NCAA Rifle history to compete in the same discipline. The achievement reflects both family legacy and Norwich’s enduring role in shaping elite-level competitors.

That lived experience now fuels a coaching philosophy grounded in inclusion, growth, and leadership. Rifle, he emphasizes, is uniquely egalitarian — one of the few NCAA sports where all athletes compete head-to-head regardless of gender or background. “Everyone competes against everyone,” he said. “The difference between good, great, and legendary is miniscule.” His message to student-athletes is clear: trust the process, embrace patience, and measure progress in precision, not shortcuts.

Coaching with Purpose

Under his leadership, the program has earned conference and national recognition. Prior to being named head coach, he was honored as the 2023–24 Mid-Atlantic Rifle Conference Coach of the Year and now serves as the conference’s Vice President. Those roles underscore his influence beyond campus and reflect the respect he has earned across collegiate rifle.

For him, Division III athletics represents the purest form of opportunity. “The opportunity to compete was amazing,” he said. “I don’t believe I would have been given the same chance at a DI or DII school.” That conviction drives his commitment to expanding access, developing leadership capacity, and helping Norwich student-athletes reach both personal and competitive ceilings.