Monday, September 26, 2022
by Western Washington University Communications

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University Director of Athletics Steve Card will retire in June 2023 after 33 years of dedicated service to the University.  

Card has served in a variety of capacities in Athletics, beginning as an award-winning golf coach, and ultimately rising to director of Athletics, a role he has filled for the last 10 years after the retirement of Lynda Goodrich. 

Under Card's leadership, the Vikings have dominated the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and proven to be one of the top programs in NCAA Division II. During his tenure, WWU has won 43 GNAC team titles, two NCAA Division II national championships, three national runner-up finishes and has been among the top 50 programs nationally in the Learfield Directors' Cup Standings numerous times. As a coach, Card was named a league Coach of the Year 11 times. 

Beyond the field of competition, the success of WWU's student-athletes has been most evident in the classroom. Western Washington has won the prestigious NCAA Presidents' Award in four of the last five years for accomplishing an Academic Success Rate (ASR) of more than 90 percent. 

"Steve Card has been a passionate champion for Viking Athletics and I am grateful for his long service to WWU," said President Sabah Randhawa. "Our competitiveness in the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference across all sports has been exemplary for decades, yet Steve has never lost sight that real success comes when students grow in their academic preparation and leadership both on and off the field, and he has instilled that same drive in our coaches and Athletics staff."  

Melynda Huskey, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services at Western, agreed with Randhawa. 

"Steve has been an extraordinary leader," said Huskey. "His focus on student success on and off the field over the last 33 years has resulted in a program that out-competes and out-succeeds any of our peers. We will miss him!"  

Card said he can retire with one of his main goals firmly achieved – to be the athletic director of a premier program and to watch its impact on scores of student-athletes. 

"It has been a privilege to be part of the Athletics Department at WWU for the past 33 years. When I started at Western in 1990, it was a career goal of mine to one day become athletic director. I will take with me positive memories of my career and a deep appreciation for the life that my family and I have enjoyed in Bellingham," said Card. "I have been blessed to have been involved in the growth of one of the premier athletics programs in the country, and am particularly grateful to have been able to make an impact, directly and indirectly, on the development of generations of student-athletes during my time here." 

"I am looking forward to the next phase of my life, including spending more time with my wife, children, and particularly my grandchildren," he said. 

Later this fall, Western Washington will begin a national search for a new director of Athletics. A celebration of Card's service to Western Washington will take place in the spring.

"They're big shoes to fill," said Huskey. "We expect a great pool of applicants, though, because of the strong reputation Steve has built for Western over the years."