PORTLAND – Wendy Guthrie, who has served as commissioner of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference since its inception in 2002, has announced her resignation. PCSC President Mark Orr, Athletic Director at Saint Mary’s College, is leading the search for a new commissioner.
“On behalf of all the members of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, we would like to thank Wendy for her dedication and commitment to the PCSC over the last seven years,” Orr said. “Wendy has guided the PCSC in securing a NCAA automatic post-season bid to expanding to a 12-member conference. Her efforts have directly benefited the student-athlete experience at each of our campuses.”
Guthrie was one of the leaders in the formation of the PCSC. The conference originally started with six teams, comprised of four teams from the West Coast Conference (WCC) and two from the Big Sky: Loyola Marymount, Portland State, Sacramento State, Saint Mary’s, San Diego and Santa Clara. She leaves her post with the PCSC ready to unveil a new look in 2010 as a two-division, 12-team conference with the additions of Cal State Bakersfield, Idaho State, Northern Colorado, Seattle University, Utah Valley and Weber State.
"It was truly my honor to serve the membership of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference,” Guthrie said. “The collegiality of the coaches group was extraordinary and contributed greatly to the fulfillment I realized personally during my tenure. I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved thus far, as a conference, and I am confident we have positioned the league for continued growth and success.
“It is with great respect that I thank the Athletic Directors for their support and for the opportunities that were afforded to me in this role.”
The PCSC played its’ first season of conference play in 2003 and the conference regular-season champion began earning an automatic NCAA Tournament berth in 2005. PCSC teams have seen success on the national stage, with Portland State securing the conference’s first NCAA Tournament win in 2006 and Loyola Marymount reaching the Los Angeles Regional final in 2007.
“Wendy was the force behind the starting of the PCSC,” said Loyola Marymount Head Coach Gary Ferrin. “She was also directly responsible for the growth of the conference. If there was no Wendy, I think this conference would never have formed and certainly would never be as far along as we are today. She worked hard to get us the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This justifies our existence. Wendy is not replaceable. I hope we get someone that can come close to meeting her established standards. She always maintained a balance of representing the school administrators and the needs of all the softball programs.
“She was a friend to all of us and she will be missed.”
With Guthrie helping pave the way for expansion, the PCSC is on a solid foundation for the future. The PCSC will hold its’ first-ever best-of-three PCSC Championship Series next season between the winners of the Coastal and Mountain Divisions. The winner will receive the PCSC’s automatic NCAA bid.
In addition, Guthrie was instrumental in helping the conference establish a new presence on the internet, as the PCSC will launch a new web site later this year.
“I want to wish Wendy the very best with her various other professional endeavors, as she has many talents,” said Sacramento State Head Coach Kathy Strahan. “Her knowledge, experience, and vision and leadership for the Pacific Coast Softball Conference since its inception have been extraordinary and she will be sorely missed. She provided us with a very solid base on which to take the PCSC to prominence on a national level.”
Guthrie also serves as Senior Associate Commissioner/Chief of Staff for the WCC, a position she was promoted to in July 2008. She originally joined the conference as the Associate Commissioner/Senior Woman Administrator on October 1, 2007.
Guthrie is a product of Salem, Ore., and is a 1991 graduate of Whittier College, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She also earned a Master’s in Athletic Administration from Springfield College in 1995.