Washington State University Athletics

During her 28 years as an administrator at Washington State University, Marcia Saneholtz was a part of, and at times guided, the Cougar Athletic Department through campus-defining and transformational periods. From when she joined the WSU Athletic Department in 1979 through her retirement in 2007, Saneholtz was a tireless advocate for the student-athlete and a nationally recognized leader in Title IX legislation. She was a guiding force in WSU’s transition from separate men’s and women’s athletic programs to one unified athletic department in the early 1980s. Saneholtz played a crucial role in WSU Athletics’ transition to an on-campus health care partnership with the university’s health and wellness and university counseling services, as well as the development and management of WSU’s student athletic training program. Additionally, she led the $30 million Bohler Renovation and Addition project in the mid-1990s and initiated WSU’s involvement in hosting NCAA Championships at the Spokane Arena. Three times she served as interim athletic director at Washington State, served two terms as vice president of the Pac-10 Conference, and received numerous national honors for her work as an administrator, including the NACWAA National Administrator of the Year, for which she served as President and on its Board of Directors. She also received the Pathfinder Award from the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports, the WSU Woman of Distinction Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Upon her retirement, WSU’s volleyball court was renamed Marcia Saneholtz Court, in her honor. She is also a member of the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame Scroll of Honor and the Bowling Green Athletic Hall of Fame, her alma mater.