Eastern Washington University Athletics Director Lynn Hickey is pictured at her introductory news conference in April 2018. Hickey will retire from the position effective April 30.
Eastern Washington University Athletics Director Lynn Hickey will retire when her contract expires April 30 following a 5-year tenure in Cheney and 50-years of involvement in education and intercollegiate athletics
According to a university news release, Hickey cites a desire to be closer to family in the Texas-Oklahoma area, including her only daughter, as a key reason for her decision.
"I would like to thank EWU and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve the institution the past five years," said Hickey, who replaced Bill Chaves who was hired at the University of North Dakota.
Hickey was first hired on an interim basis following Chaves' departure in early 2018 and named to the permanent position in April 2018.
Hickey, who was at the helm of the school's athletic department through COVID-19, came to EWU after serving in a similar position at the University of Texas, San Antonio for 18 years.
Hickey also has the distinction of being someone whose journey in athletics began under Title IX where she played, coached and was a collegiate athletic administrator.
Under Hickey, Eastern's 2018 football team advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision national championship in Frisco, Texas for a second time in the decade.
EWU's basketball team also qualified for the NCAA tournament for the third time in the school's Division I history in 2021 and are current Big Sky Conference leaders with a 12-0 record.
But Hickey was also part of two controversial firings of coaches that led to lawsuits being filed against the university.
Former women's basketball coach Wendy Schuller, whose contract was terminated March 31, 2021, filed a $5 million on June 18 for unjust termination.
That was followed by soccer coach Chad Bodnar's similar $5 million suit when his contract non-renewal was announced May 10, 2021. Reportedly, that suit has been withdrawn following Bodnar's death in July 2022.
"I want to thank Lynn Hickey for all her years of service not only to college athletics, but specifically for her hard work here at Eastern," President Shari McMahan said in a statement.
Eastern will conduct a national search for the position beginning immediately.
Reader Comments(0)