OLYMPIA, Wash. – Following a national search, The Evergreen State College has hired Matt Newman as Director of Recreation and Athletics.  He will take over for Wendy Endress, who has served as Interim Director of Recreation and Athletics since November 2010 and will be returning to her permanent position as Executive Associate to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

“For all of the right reasons, Evergreen offers a broad-based Recreation and Athletics program in an effort to provide positive and healthy opportunities for students, faculty and staff, alumni, and the community,” said Newman.  “This fits with my philosophy about the role of athletics in higher education, and I couldn’t be more honored and excited to become part of the Evergreen team.”

Newman comes to Evergreen following three years as commissioner of the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference, where he planned and oversaw operations for the 18-sport and 3,600-student-athlete league.

“I am excited to have Matt join us,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Art Costantino.  “He has experience in all aspects of the job, a reputation as a strong administrator and a real interest in working at Evergreen.”

Prior to the Northwest Conference, Newman was Associate Dean of Students and Director of Athletics and Recreation at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, N.Y.  Newman also has athletic administrative experience at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Savannah College of Art and Design and has coached at both the high school and collegiate levels, including six years as a collegiate baseball head coach in both the NAIA and NCAA.

Newman has worked extensively with both the NAIA and NCAA and their respective committees, including Committee on Women’s Athletics, Student Records Review Committee and Regional Advisory Committees for both baseball and golf.

A 1990 graduate of University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in speech and hearing science, Newman also holds a Master of Science from Idaho State University and is in the final stages of his Doctor of Education coursework at University of Virginia.

Newman, and his partner Monica Nixon, who is currently the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Seattle University, reside in Seattle.