March 17, 2009

SEATTLE -- Erin O'Connell, who served in an interim capacity the past eight months, has been named the athletic director at Seattle Pacific University, President Philip Eaton announced Tuesday.

O'Connell, 35, becomes the school's 10th athletic director and the first woman in that position since Seattle Pacific began sponsoring intercollegiate sports in 1946.

She worked five years as an assistant athletic director for compliance at SPU, also serving as the department's senior woman administrator, before being named the interim athletic director in July. She succeeded Tom Box, who was promoted to vice president for university advancement after 10 years in the athletic department.

 “Building on the huge accomplishments of our coaches and athletes over the years, building as well on the great leadership of Tom Box as AD over the last 10 years, we open now a great new chapter for SPU athletics under Erin's leadership,” Eaton said. “She has earned this opportunity. She brings experience, passion, and real vision to the job. I am eager to go to work with her to create an exciting future for SPU athletics.”

Seattle Pacific is an NCAA Division II member school that sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports. In each of the last three years, the Falcons ranked among the top-30 schools in the prestigious Directors' Cup that recognizes the best overall athletics programs in the country.

 “I'm excited to start this new chapter of my life,” O'Connell said. “There is a great staff and coaches here at SPU and a tradition of excellence that I hope to continue.”

During her eight months in the interim position, O'Connell supervised a successful period for the Falcons. The women's soccer team captured the 2008 national title and the women's basketball squad advanced to the 2009 regional championship game. The men's basketball team participated in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season.

Women's distance standout Jessica Pixler won three individual national championships, including the 2008 cross country title. Pixler finished first in the mile and 5,000-meter races at last week's 2009 NCAA Division II indoor track & field championships.

The Falcons excelled in the classroom as well. Each team had a composite grade point average that exceeded 3.0 in the fall quarter with a combined GPA of 3.33. Nearly half (86) of SPU's student-athletes were honored on the Dean's List and 22 achieved perfect 4.0 GPAs.

Prior to working with the Falcons, O'Connell spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Washington women's rowing team. She coached the Huskies varsity four to three consecutive Pac-10 championships between 1999-2001.

A native of San Francisco, O'Connell received her bachelor's degree in English from Washington in 1996. She completed her master's degree in sports administration at Seattle Pacific.

O'Connell had an outstanding competitive career from 1993-96 as a coxswain on the Washington rowing team. She directed crews to three Pac-10 championships and collected a bronze medal at the NCAA Championships. As a senior, O'Connell was the team captain and a Pac-10 All-Conference selection.

O'Connell currently serves as the chairman of the NCAA Division II women's rowing championship committee and also chairs the Great Northwest Athletic Conference management council.

 “The last eight months served as a great trial run for me in the athletic director's chair,” O'Connell explained. “This has been my ultimate goal. I never realized that it would be happening so soon. But I've gained experience with committee work and have been blessed by working with great people, and that has prepared me to take on this challenge.”