Friday, March 22, 2024
by Evan O'Kelly, Assistant Commissioner For Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – After 12 years serving the Great Northwest Athletic Conference as associate and assistant commissioner, Bridget Johnson Tetteh was appointed to be the league’s next commissioner as announced by the GNAC CEO Board on Thursday.

Tetteh will succeed Dave Haglund, who announced his retirement after 12 ½ years as GNAC commissioner in February, as the third commissioner since the conference was founded in 2001. Tetteh will begin her role as commissioner on July 1, 2024, upon the completion of Haglund’s term.

“Bridget has the qualifications and expertise to excel in this position,” said Montana State Billings chancellor Dr. Stefani Hicswa, who serves as chair of the GNAC CEO Board. “Her vision for the conference is impressive, and I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish as our new commissioner.”

Tetteh was promoted to her current title of associate commissioner in July, 2015, and she is the conference office’s Senior Woman Administrator. The Portland, Ore., native has served as the conference’s championships director, compliance director and on a wide variety of regional and national committees during her time with the conference office. “I would like to thank the GNAC CEO Board for offering me this amazing opportunity,” said Tetteh. “I have spent 18 years associated with the GNAC as a student-athlete, coach and administrator. This is a special conference, and it is my honor to serve as the next commissioner. It has been a privilege to work for an amazing commissioner like Dave Haglund. I am grateful for his guidance and support which have been instrumental in shaping my career.”

Tetteh currently serves on the NCAA Nominating Committee in a term that will last through 2027, as well as the co-chair of the Conference Commissioners Association Compliance Administrators. She recently completed terms on the NCAA Track & Field Rules Committee (2023), and on the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant Committee (2022). In 2022, she served as tournament director for the NCAA Division II Women’s & Men’s Soccer Championships at the NCAA Fall Festival in Seattle. Her scope of work also includes serving as an NCAA site representative as well as meet director for the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in 2013.

Beginning her involvement with the GNAC as a student-athlete at Western Oregon University, Tetteh was a two-time NCAA All-American in track & field, competing primarily in the heptathlon. Tetteh’s 115 career points earned at the GNAC Outdoor Championships during her career remain as the all-time conference record. She followed her success as a student-athlete into a coaching career at both WOU, where she earned her master’s degree in 2008, and at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. After gaining extensive event management and sport supervision experience during her time as a coach, Tetteh was hired as GNAC assistant commissioner prior to the 2012-13 academic year.

“The CEO Board has made a superb choice in selecting Bridget for this position,” said Haglund, who became the GNAC’s second commissioner in January, 2012 and has led the conference office since. “Her vast experience in the GNAC – including her time as an All-American student-athlete and 12 years in the conference office – cannot be overstated. She has been an outstanding associate commissioner and will continue to do great things as the next commissioner. I couldn’t be happier with her appointment.”

“I appreciate Dave’s years of service as our commissioner,” Hicswa said. “He has provided quality leadership for the GNAC over the past 12 years, and he will be missed.”

In September, 2023, Tetteh was selected by the GNAC members as the conference’s nominee for the NCAA Division II Gold Award. She led the Wolves to three consecutive GNAC Championships outdoor team titles from 2003-05, collected four GNAC gold medals throughout her career, and was inducted into the Western Oregon University Athletics Hall of Fame in January, 2016.