Thursday, February 6, 2014
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Former Western Washington University Director of Athletics Lynda Goodrich has been named the recipient of the 2014 Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award is the most prestigious presented by the D2 ADA, an organization administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). It is given to athletic directors who have exemplified superior achievement during their careers at the NCAA Division II level.
Goodrich retired last May after 26 years as head of the WWU Athletics Department. Currently, she is serving in her first year as the Special Assistant to the Vice President/Athletic Fund Raising.
“Lynda led Western Washington to unprecedented success during her time at the helm of the Vikings,” stated D2 ADA President Anita Barker, director of athletics at Chico State. “The D2 ADA looks forward to honoring her accomplishments at the June Convention.”
Goodrich has been an icon, not only on the WWU campus, but also nationally. Under her leadership, the Vikings captured nine national championships and another nine individual titles, while posting five straight top 15 finishes (2008-13) and five consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-sports titles. She led the school’s transition from NAIA to Division II.
Goodrich is no stranger to the coaching ranks either, having coached basketball, golf, tennis, track & field and volleyball during her 41-year tenure at WWU.
WWU made the move to NCAA II in 1998. During that 15-year stretch under Goodrich’s leadership, the Vikings won eight team national titles, one in men’s basketball and seven in women’s rowing. They also reached the national title match in volleyball, two national semifinals in both men’s and women’s basketball, and placed second three times and third twice in women’s rowing.
Under Goodrich’s direction, WWU student-athletes graduated at rates well above the national average for NCAA II.
Goodrich was instrumental in rebuilding and reshaping the WWU athletics program, helping raise funds for a strength and fitness center, softball field upgrade and the installation of a multi-purpose field, while introducing an annual fund drive, auction and golf tournament to help raise funds for scholarships. Softball and golf were added as varsity sports for women and attendance increased across all sports during her tenure.
Among her top accomplishments at WWU, Goodrich listed the move from NAIA to NCAA II, improving facilities and hiring outstanding coaches and staff as her top accomplishments. She also implemented a marketing program, better game management and refurbishments of Carver Gym including LED signage and a video board.
When Goodrich transferred to WWU as a student in 1963, there were no true opportunities for women athletes and when she began collegiate coaching with the Vikings in 1971 the opportunities weren’t much better.
Goodrich posted a 411-125 record in 19 seasons (1971-90) as women’s basketball coach, never having a losing season, reaching post-season play 18 times and winning 20 games 13 times. A finalist for National Division II Coach of the Year honors in 1981 and 1982, she directed the Vikings to two quarterfinal finishes at the NAIA National Tournament; and three regional titles and subsequent trips to the AIAW Nationals.
Goodrich, who has received numerous sports administration honors, has been inducted into five Hall of Fames. They are the NAIA, WWU Athletics, Northwest Women’s Sports, Snohomish County Athletics and Lake Stevens High School Athletics.
Goodrich obtained her bachelor’s degree in 1966 and master’s degree in 1973, both at WWU, and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Western's Alumni Association in 1988.
Goodrich will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on June 10 at the 2014 NACDA Convention at Orlando, Florida.