Cal Lutheran University names former soccer star Roepke as athletic director

Cal Lutheran University named alumna Holly Roepke as its athletic director on Thursday morning.

The 1998 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association women’s soccer Player of the Year for the Regals, Roepke had previously worked in NCAA Division III athletic departments at Pomona-Pitzer College in Claremont and Grinnell College in Iowa.

Roepke had been serving as CLU interim athletic director since October, when predecessor Dan Kuntz retired after serving 17 years in the position.

“What a thrill it is to see our very own Hall of Famer come full circle to lead athletics,” said CLU vice president Matthew Ward, who manages the college’s athletic department, in a statement. “Holly is an inspirational leader with a wealth of experience in Division III athletics. Moreover, she brings a champion mindset and will push us to elevate the student-athlete experience.”

As a student-athlete, Roepke was a four-year All-SCIAC first team selection, a two-time NSCAA second-team All-American and the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame Female College Athlete of the Year in 1999.

Roepke was inducted into CLU Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. She remains fifth in career goals (42) and third in career assists (25) in program history.

Roepke previously served as the senior associate athletic director at Pomona-Pitzer, assistant athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion at Grinnell, and the director of media relations for the SCIAC, of which Cal Lutheran and Pomona-Pitzer are members.

She also served as an assistant soccer coach under Kuntz at CLU for three seasons.

Roepke holds a bachelor’s degree from CLU in Organizational Leadership and a master’s degree in Kinesiology and Sport Management from the University of South Dakota.

“I have had a nonlinear pathway through my professional career, gaining valuable experience to return home and lead Cal Lutheran athletics,” Roepke said. “I am excited to champion success and belonging and to support athletes and department professionals who all share a love of purple and have hearts of gold.”

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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Cal Lutheran University names alumna Roepke as athletic director