When the doctor looked at Carley McCaie and told her it was "time to grow up," he wasn't talking about her maturity. He was talking about her knee. Specifically, he was telling the Fitchburg State field hockey standout that her days of competing were over.
At 21 years old, McCaie was facing a meniscus replacement using a cadaver donor—a surgery usually reserved for those far beyond their collegiate prime.
For many, this would have been the end of the story. For McCaie, it was merely the prologue to a different kind of championship season.
In January 2026, McCaie stood in the sprawling atrium of the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland. She wasn’t there to compete on a turf field, but to navigate the high-stakes world of the 2026 NCAA Convention.
As one of only 40 students selected nationwide for the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program, McCaie was representing Fitchburg State as only the second student in the university’s history to do so.
"Carley McCaie embodies the very best of Fitchburg State,” said Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge. “While her talent on the field was undeniable, it is her intellectual curiosity and unwavering resilience that truly sets her apart. Watching her navigate the NCAA Convention with such poise and professional purpose was a powerful reminder of her potential to impact the national stage. She has proven that being an athlete is just one chapter of her story; she is a born leader who is ready to shape the future of collegiate sports."
The road to the Student Immersion Program was paved with grit. McCaie’s career is a masterclass in overcoming adversity. After tearing her meniscus in the gym in 2023 and missing her sophomore season, she battled back, only to tear it even more. By her junior year, McCaie was playing on 25 percent of a meniscus, needing cortisone shots and constant drainage just to make it to the end of the regular season.
"It was a mental block," said McCaie, a business administration major with an accounting concentration. "Every time I had surgery, it was starting from the bottom again. I’m such a big lifter and athlete; I didn't want to accept it."
The turning point came at the 2025 Fitchburg State Athletics Award night. Sitting in the audience, listening to Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Matt Burke speak, a lightbulb went off.
"I realized it doesn’t have to be the end," said McCaie. "Maybe I can’t be the athlete anymore, but I can always be involved in collegiate athletics."
I’m so glad I picked Fitchburg. The professors, the athletic administrators, and the coaches have all made such a huge impact. I truly wouldn't change anything about the last four years.
That summer, the business major reached out to Burke, not to talk about her rehab, but to pick his brain about his journey to becoming an AD. When the opportunity for the NCAA Immersion Program arose, the Fitchburg State administration—including Burke and Associate Athletic Director Bettiann Peura—knew exactly who to nominate.
"Carley has always been a great competitor on the field, but what has been even more impressive is watching her channel that same tenacity into her professional development," said Burke. "When she approached me to talk about athletics and potential career paths, it was clear that her injury hadn't sidelined her—it had merely redirected her drive. Having her represent the Falcons in the NCAA Student Immersion Program is a proud moment for our department. She possesses the exact blend of resilience and leadership we look for in the next generation of athletic administrators, and I have no doubt she will be successful in this industry."
The 2026 Convention brought together leaders from all three NCAA divisions for four days of legislation and education. For McCaie, seeing the "business side" of the sport was eye-opening.
"Meeting everyone in my program, I felt like everyone was just like me," said McCaie. "We all had different stories and different journeys, but we shared the same great attitude and drive. You realize that nothing is impossible. Every speaker we heard started from the bottom. You learn that you can do anything as long as you have the drive."
One of the most impactful moments for McCaie was hearing from Louise McCleary, the Vice President of NCAA Division III.
"She is one of the coolest people to listen to," said McCaie. "She told us that whatever you want to do, say it out loud to people."
McCaie took that advice to heart. Throughout the week, she networked with administrators, participated in DiSC leadership training, and attended MASCAC conference meetings. Watching President Hodge advocate for athletes on a national stage was a highlight.
"Seeing President Hodge in action, talking about budgets and how they benefit students, was one of the coolest things," said McCaie. "We see her at all our games, whether it’s a hard loss or an amazing win. Seeing someone advocate for us so strongly makes a huge difference."
The Immersion Program utilized the DiSC assessment, a tool designed to help leaders understand their behavioral styles. McCaie’s results confirmed what her teammates already knew: she is an overachiever who needs to get things done.
"My group was very outgoing and fast-paced," said McCaie. "We had to learn how to work with groups that were quieter and preferred to take their time to ensure efficiency. It makes you think about how to work with others to make sure a whole team succeeds."
This lesson in leadership was put into practice throughout the 2025 fall season. McCaie served as a student-assistant coach, a role that was bittersweet but deeply rewarding.
The hardest part was watching her best friend since sixth grade, Olivia Narkevicius, take the field without her.
"It was 50-50," McCaie says of the transition. "When they announced the starting lineups and said, 'Coached by Carley McCaie,' it was tough. But seeing the behind-the-scenes—the practice plans, the team bonding—made me realize how much goes into it. You see that everyone is different and requires a different coaching approach."
Growing up just 20 minutes down the road in Templeton, McCaie initially viewed Fitchburg State as the "safe" option. Now, as a senior looking toward graduation, she views it as the launchpad for her future.
"I’m so glad I picked Fitchburg," said McCaie, who is the treasurer of the Fitchburg State women’s ice hockey club team. "The professors, the athletic administrators, and the coaches have all made such a huge impact. I truly wouldn't change anything about the last four years."
The convention has solidified her career path. McCaie is currently looking into master’s programs for athletic administration, with the goal of one day becoming an athletic director herself. The injury that once felt like the end of her world has become the catalyst for her career.
"It re-energized me," said McCaie. "Going to the conference, I knew this was it. I can see myself doing this until I retire."
McCaie knows that the competitive drive that made her a great athlete is the exact same tool that will make her a great administrator.
"If you are given an opportunity, you need to take it," she says. "As a senior, that can be scary. But going out there and networking is only going to help you. I have such a new drive now to start my future."
McCaie may no longer be competing on the turf, but at the 2026 NCAA Convention, she proved she is still very much in the game. And for this former Falcon-turned-coach, the "business side" of sports is looking brighter than ever.