Thursday, June 3, 2021
by Western Oregon Athletic Communications

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Having served as the interim Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for Western Oregon University for the past year, Randi Lydum has been named to the permanent role following a national search.

Lydum, a graduate of Western Oregon, returned to her alma mater in 2012 to take on the role of assistant athletic director for compliance and senior woman administator. As a former student-athlete, Lydum has used her varied experience as a head coach, faculty member and student success specialist, to transition into athletic administration.

"I am thrilled for the opportunity to serve as the director of athletics at Western Oregon," Lydum said. "While this past year has been unusual, I am energized by our student-athletes' commitment to WOU and am planning for full competitive seasons this fall."

Lydum helped guide the Wolves through a challenging year, adjusting to the pandemic while still providing opportunities for WOU student-athletes. Teams returned to strength and conditioning workouts and practice during the fall, but were not cleared for competition until February. Several WOU athletic teams returned to competition this spring with baseball, softball, and men's and Women's track & field competing in condensed seasons culminating in GNAC championships. 

Western Oregon hosted the GNAC Softball Championships and competed in the four-team event. Western also hosted the GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with the men finishing second and the women finishing fifth. The Wolves Baseball team finished second in the NCAA West Regional Championship after also finishing second in GNAC play. Women's soccer and volleyball played condensed non-conference schedules this spring.

At the national level, Lydum is completing a four-year term on the NCAA Division II Track and Field Committee. She was the committee's chair this year and oversaw the successful execution of the Division II Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the midst of the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to returning to her alma mater, Lydum served as the director of retention and first-year experience and faculty athletic representative at Division III Defiance College in Ohio. She has also served as a teaching assistant and faculty development specialist at Arizona and also served as the head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Division II San Francisco State. While with the Gators, Lydum also served as the assistant athletic director for compliance.

Lydum graduated from Western Oregon with a degree in health education and language arts in 1990 and earned her Master's in health education from WOU in 1993. As a student-athlete, Lydum was a nine-time NAIA All-American in cross country and track and field and was inducted into the WOU Hall of Fame in 2007.

Western Oregon University competes in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference sponsoring 13 men's and women's varsity sports that include football, baseball, men's basketball, men's cross country, men's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's basketball, softball, women's cross country, women's soccer, women's indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball.