ASSOCIATE AD/SWA Sarah Levesque

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Email: slevesque@bemidjistate.edu

Tel: (218) 755-2142

Bemidji State University Director of Athletics Dr. Rick Goeb announced the hiring of Sarah Levesque (lah-VIKE) as Associate Director of Athletics July 24, 2007. In her role, Levesque will have direct responsibilities as Compliance Officer while serving as the department's Senior Women Administrator.

"Sarah is a very good fit for this position," commented Goeb. "She has over five years of experience working compliance while handling Senior Women Administrator duties in a Division II setting at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs."

"I love Northern Minnesota," said Levesque "Being from Minnesota originally, I am excited to be moving to a beautiful area and to work at such a nice school," said Levesque.

"I think my experience at UCCS has prepared me well for this position. I understand the timelines of the job, when to get things done and what coaches need to be aware of, especially in considering the demands of compliance," said Levesque. She went on to say, "To gain experience working at the Division I level is very exciting for me. I am ready for a new challenge and I think BSU is a great fit."

Levesque joins the staff at Bemidji State after spending more than seven years at UCCS, with the last five in the Assistant Athletic Director role.

She began her tenure with the Mountain Lions in 2001 as the men's and women's tennis coach. There she handled all facets of the program including its budget, travel arrangements, recruiting, the development of training programs and in addition to day-to-day guidance and instruction of the tennis teams until 2004.

In 2002, she took on the role of the department's Senior Women Administrator. As SWA, she was involved in program-wide, administrative decision making at the institution, conference and national level. She also served as a spokesperson for the needs and interest of women within the department while participating on the senior management team.

Levesque was promoted to the position of Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance in 2003. As UCCS's compliance officer, she was responsible for the enforcement of university, conference and NCAA regulations, including all aspects of recruiting and the eligibility of student-athletes. She developed and implemented a comprehensive NCAA and conference rules education program and was responsible for NCAA and Department of Education reports and waivers.

Along the way, she was also involved as NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator as well as serving as the supervisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Levesque's ties to the area run deep. A 2000 graduate of the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and a minor in coaching, she was a four-year member of the Fighting Sioux tennis team. A native of Princeton, Minn., she and her husband Eric have a 23-month-old daughter Eva, and plan to reside in Bemidji.

Funding for the newly established Associate Director of Athletics position at BSU was awarded through a four-year grant from the NCAA. Nation-wide, Bemidji State was one of six institutions to receive one of the grants dolled out by the NCAA. The purpose of the grants are to further the advancement of women and minorities in collegiate athletics.