Senior associate director of athletics and Senior Women's Administrator Carolyn Lewis announces retirement from athletics progra
San Jose, Calif.-----Carolyn Lewis, a senior associate director of athletics and the senior women's administrator in the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at San Jose State University, has announced her retirement from the university effective Se
| Carolyn Lewis |
"When I turned 50 (years old), I was trying to figure out when to retire. My window of retirement was going to be somewhere between 50 and 60," said Lewis, a native of San Jose who has been connected to athletics in all or part of the last five decades. "I’m interested in a change, because that is my long-range goal.
"I love my job and I’ll miss it. I also promised myself I would retire from the job when I still loved it. I never wanted to retire when I just wanted out (of the job)."
Her four-decade career in coaching and athletics administration spans all levels of athletics. Locally, she once was the coordinator of girls’ sports for the Central Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation.
When San Jose State University had separate men’s and women’s athletics departments, she was the women’s basketball coach in the 1974 and 1975 seasons, an assistant field hockey coach, later the head coach for field hockey for six seasons and the associate director of athletics for women. Lewis was the 1983 NORPAC "Coach of the Year" in field hockey, had the team nationally-ranked during her coaching tenure, and took the Spartans to the 1983 and 1984 NCAA Championships.
Following the school’s merger of the two athletics departments in 1987, Lewis held several administrative positions including interim director of athletics from October 1997 to February 1998.
She can take credit for organizing and initiating San Jose State University’s Student-Athlete Support Services unit in 1988 and the current Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Lewis was instrumental in developing the Gender Equity Plan in the early 1990’s for the school’s intercollegiate athletics program.
"We developed a consensus (about gender equity). We built a comprehensive, appealing, and strong women’s program, but not to the detriment of the men’s program. We tried to grow together," remembers Lewis.
Forging many bonds between athletics and academics on campus, she has served in the Academic Senate, on the Human Resources Coordinating Council, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Committee and the New Student Task Force.
Lewis presently is a member Western Athletic Conference Council, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Administrative Council and the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Committee.
For nine years, she was the United States Field Hockey Association’s vice-president for administration and special events and was the chief of the field hockey delegation for nine U.S. Olympic Sports Festivals and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Also, she has served on the board of directors for the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame and San Jose Sports Authority’s Inner City Games.
Lewis’ affiliation with the university dates back to 1966 as a San Jose State student-athlete and who earned varsity letters in field hockey, softball and volleyball. The1969 Lady Spartan field hockey team captain also played on the junior varsity women’s basketball squad. As a San Jose State graduate in 1970 with "Great Distinction," she was the first person in her family to earn a college degree. She went on to earn her master’s degree from Washington State University in 1972 and was a Dean’s List student.
"I got into education because teachers made a difference in my life and I felt it was important to pass it on. I hope I made a difference in young people’s lives," stated Lewis, who continues to run field hockey summer camps for youngsters in Northern California. "I worked with some great people – a number of really good and caring people that includes student-athletes, faculty and staff.
"Carolyn Lewis has served San Jose State University athletics in many roles and did them all with great pride, purpose and dedication. She has the respect and admiration of our student-athletes and coaches and colleagues in the Western Athletic Conference and the NCAA," says Bell. "Her willingness to tackle difficult circumstances, positive attitude, and ability to mediate set her apart from her peers in college athletics."
Information on the search to replace Lewis will be announced at a later date according to athletics director Bell.