Erin Blecha, the new director of marketing and promotions. (Johann Qua Hiansen | Student Life)

The Washington University Athletic Department now has a new marketing and external relations coordinator, Erin Blecha.

The position includes many important tasks to be completed throughout each sports season. From advising Red Alert to determining the logistics of events and finding sponsors, Blecha has a big job ahead of her—though she seems determined to expand even more.

“Erin Blecha is going to be a great asset in the Wash. U. Department of Athletics and will continue to improve the marketing and promotions of Bears’ athletics and our student-athletes,” Sports Information Director Chris Mitchell said.

Blecha replaces Trevor MacDonald, who created the position two years ago. MacDonald took a job at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) as director of marketing and operations.

Blecha joins the University community with a master’s degree in communication from the University of Arizona, a Division I school, where she interned for one year in the athletic department’s marketing office.

“It’s a great opportunity to get into the Division III athletic setting and build upon a strong athletic tradition which is going on here at Wash. U.” Blecha said. “[There are] lots of winning teams and really excited students who are involved in the campus and the community.”

But Blecha is no stranger to the Division III athletic system. She attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., competing as a successful track and field athlete and making the all-conference team all four years. Blecha captured the 2006 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship high jump in her junior year and competed at the Division III NCAA Indoor National Championships in the high jump in 2007.

Blecha’s familiarity with the dual responsibilities of a student-athlete has influenced her future plans. She hopes to develop “more community involvement…[such as] a letter-writing program with some of the schools to promote education and the importance of being a student and an athlete.”

As Division I sports tend to have “built-in students and community members coming to games,” Blecha recognizes the greater challenge of attracting students to a Division III event. There are already many plans in development to increase student attendance.

Blecha has clearly done her homework, as she is aware of the popularity of raffles and giveaways at Wash. U. She promises that there will be some great halftime promotions, including a shooting contest, giveaways and incentives at sporting events. One of Blecha’s goals this year is to “appeal to the student population as a whole, not just those who love sports.” She even hinted that some restaurant sponsors would be giving away free food at games.

Blecha and the Athletic Department are excited to continue working side by side with Red Alert and intend to keep building the program, aiming for more consistency in promotions at all athletic events.

“I’ll remember her as a wonderful teacher, coach, administrator, mother, friend and valued member of the Washington University community,” Athletic Director John Schael said.

Imergoot, most recently the associate director of club and intramural sports, started work at the University in 1973 as the director of women’s and co-ed intramurals, a post she held until 1979. She also served in the administration as coordinator for women’s athletics from 1977-84 and assistant athletic director from 1984-2005.

Aside from her work behind a desk, Imergoot will be most remembered as the first and longtime coach of the women’s tennis team, a post she held from 1975-2005. During her 30-year tenure as coach, the Bears compiled a record of 435-164 (.726) and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Six players also earned seven All-America distinctions during that time.

“Establishing and coaching the initial women’s tennis program was a great accomplishment for Lynn, as there were few opportunities for women’s participation in intercollegiate athletics,” Schael said. “She was, in a sense, a pioneer and indeed strong advocate for the advancement of women’s athletics on the Danforth Campus and was proud of Washington University’s commitment to enhanced opportunities for women in sport.”

“You have to have people who open doors, and I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to work with someone that helped me develop as a coach and as a woman administrator. She gave guidance, and I always will appreciate that,” said Nancy Fahey, coach for the women’s basketball team since 1986 and the senior woman administrator.

In addition to starting the women’s tennis program, Imergoot helped Schael and the athletics department introduce cross country, indoor track, basketball, soccer, softball and golf as women’s varsity programs. The University now has one more women’s varsity program than men’s program with the 2008 addition of women’s golf.

“We grew up in a time when we went to college and you had to look around to find varsity athletics for women, because not all colleges had them. When they did, they were coached by grad students, not graduated professors. So the fact that she started the program here, she was a pioneer in women’s athletics,” said Martha Tillman, current director of the South 40 Fitness Center and former swim team coach from 1979-99.

While the winning seasons and NCAA Tournament berths show that Imergoot knew how to coach a team to victory, Tillman and Fahey emphasized that Imergoot applied her coaching far beyond pushing for a win.

“She looked at everything as a way to teach lifelong lessons—the way you look at things, the way you deal with things. I think she looked at every opportunity as an opportunity to teach,” Tillman said.

“Lynn wasn’t just one-dimensional. Whether it was interaction with her players as a coach, whether it was her association with the intramural department, she touched a lot of different lives here in a lot of different ways. I think that’s what makes someone special,” Fahey said.

The accident occurred while Imergoot was driving from a summer sports camp to a scheduled dentist appointment.

She is survived by her son Douglas, 31, daughter Jennifer, 28, granddaughter Tamia, 9, and sister Amy Kossak. Imergoot was laid to rest in Deans, N.J., on July 27. A memorial service is scheduled for Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. in Graham Chapel.

“I’ll remember her as a wonderful teacher, coach, administrator, mother, friend, and valued member of the Washington University community,” Athletic Director John Schael said.

Imergoot, most recently the associate director of club and intramural sports, started work at Wash. U. in 1973 as the director of women’s and co-ed intramurals, a post she held until 1979. She also served in the administration as coordinator for women’s athletics from 1977-84 and assistant athletic director from 1984-2005.

In addition to all of her work behind a desk, Imergoot will be most remembered as the first and longtime coach of the Wash. U. women’s tennis team, a post she held from 1975-2005. During her 30-year tenure as coach, the Bears compiled a record of 435-164 (.726) and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Six players also earned seven All-America distinctions during her tenure.

“Establishing and coaching the initial women’s tennis program was a great accomplishment for Lynn as there were few opportunities for women’s participation in intercollegiate athletics.  She was, in a sense, a pioneer and indeed strong advocate for the advancement of women’s athletics on the Danforth Campus and was proud of Washington University’s commitment to enhanced opportunities for women in sport,” Schael added.

In addition to starting the women’s tennis program, Imergoot also helped Schael and the rest of the athletic department introduce cross country, indoor track, basketball, soccer, softball and golf as women’s varsity programs. Wash. U. now has one more women’s varsity program than men’s program with the addition of women’s golf in 2008.

The accident occurred while Imergoot was driving from a summer sports camp to a scheduled dentist appointment.

She is survived by her son Douglas, 31, daughter Jennifer, 28, and sister Amy Kossak. The funeral was Monday in Livingston, N.J., and she was buried in nearby Deans, N.J.

A memorial service will occur on campus next month.