Notables: A Division III conference commissioner recently was listed by the Institute of International Sport among the “100 Most Influential Sports Educators,” and a Division III institution also was cited by that organization as one of the nation’s “15 Most Influential Sports Education ‘Teams’.” Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano was the only commissioner in any NCAA division included on the list that also featured athletics coaches, administrators, athletes and other individuals whose careers have been characterized by extraordinary contributions to sports education. Mitrano, who has served as Empire 8 commissioner since 2001, previously has been honored along with the conference for various leadership and sportsmanship programs and initiatives. The institute also included Springfield College and President Richard Flynn — a member of the Division III Presidents Council — on its list of most influential “teams.” Springfield specifically was cited for its international reputation for developing coaches, athletic trainers, physical education instructors, team managers, sports psychologists and athletes and the resulting positive impact on millions of people through sports.

Milestones: Williams College became the fifth Division III football program and the first in New England to win 600 games with its October 20 home-field victory over Tufts University. The Ephs have won more than 60 percent of their games through 122 years of competition ... Dan Gilmore became the eighth NCAA men’s soccer coach to win 500 games when Rowan University defeated Neumann College October 15. He joins three other currently active coaches who have reached the 500-victory milestone.

Teamwork — Student-athletes at various Division III institutions recently have participated in fund-raising walks to support efforts against breast cancer. They include 142 Bridgewater State College student-athletes and coaches clad in pink hats who participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk October 13 along the Charles River in Boston, as well as women’s soccer players at Keene State College, who collected more than $4,000 in donations for their own participation in an October 14 walk in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Women’s soccer teams from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Curry College joined Bridgwater State teams from eight sports in the Boston walk.