Pam Gohl named Director of Athletics

A person with short blonde hair, wearing glasses and a suit, speaks into a microphone while standing at a podium. The backdrop displays the logo and text for the University of Sioux Falls, including a purple panther and the phrase "Make It Yours.
Athletics
Published: 12/07/18

University of Sioux Falls President Brett Bradfield today announced that Pam Gohl has been named the next Director of Athletics at University of Sioux Falls. She will begin effective immediately. In addition to being an NCAA Division II National Champion coach, an NSIC Coach of the Year and the 2009 Molten/Women’s Division II Bulletin Coach of the Year, Gohl has extensive leadership experience in athletic administration, holds a Master’s degree in Sports Management, and is a former student-athlete herself. Gohl is in her seventh year at USF.

In the news conference, President Bradfield said Gohl is the right person to carry on and build upon the strong tradition of USF Athletics thanks to her many successes in nearly 20 years of collegiate athletics. “Pam Gohl’s extensive background in both executive athletic administration and her coaching experience in college athletics make Pam an exceptional choice to lead USF Athletics,” said President Bradfield. “Beyond this, personally, Pam is a great fit at the University of Sioux Falls where we strive to ensure our student-athletes succeed on the field and in the classroom and commit to our culture of service ideal. Those who know Pam describe her as a person of character who cares about our student-athletes and all the staff and coaches she serves with. Pam knows our athletic programs and understands many of the intricacies of operating in the NSIC and NCAA DII level. Most importantly, she shares our common aspirations for the future success of our student-athletes and teams.”

Twice Gohl has served as Interim Athletic Director for USF, once from January to April of 2014, and most recently beginning September of this year after former Director of Athletics Josh Snyder stepped down to pursue other interests after four and half years at the helm. Gohl most recently served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator at USF. “I am humbled and honored for this opportunity at the University of Sioux Falls,” Gohl said. “I am excited to continue to work in a new capacity with the student-athletes, coaches, staff and the USF community with its tremendous fan base as we build on past success and create a shared vision of growth and achievement in the future.”

The vision of the USF Athletic Department mirrors that of the NCAA DII model of success in athletic competition, life in the balance and community engagement. The University desires for its student-athletes and coaches to model Christian values, seek excellence in academic performance, grow spiritually and become involved with the greater Sioux Falls community. While serving on the leadership team in athletics, Gohl has been part of an athletic department that continues to excel in the classroom and in competition while holding true to USF’s Culture for Service. Some examples of success in this include:

  • Just this week, the NCAA DII announced that for the fourth straight year, USF student-athletes earned the distinction of the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. USF is the only NSIC institution to be recognized four straight years with this honor and the only institution to earn the special recognition in 2018.
  • USF has ranked in the top-seven among the 16 NSIC programs in the league’s all sports standings for six straight years. In 2017-18, USF finished fourth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference All-Sports Award standings.
  • USF has received national recognition for the success of its sports teams including four NAIA national championships in football, eight top-25 NCAA DII finishes, three NSIC championships, and more.

In 2018, Gohl received the second Trustee Award for her outstanding dedication to the University of Sioux Falls and has been a staple at USF since 2012. She has been active on campus with service on campus committees such as those spearheading, strategic planning, retention, a University presidential search, NCAA DII compliance and Title IX efforts. Before joining USF in 2012, Gohl was a successful head women’s basketball coach for Minnesota State-Mankato. She led the Mavericks to the school’s first-ever NCAA DII Championship in 2008-09.

In 1999, Gohl earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education at Augustana College, where she was a four-year member of the Augustana Women’s Basketball Team. In August 2001, she earned a Master of Science degree in Sports Management from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University. Prior to serving as head coach at MSU, she was an assistant basketball coach for two seasons with the Mavericks. She was also head coach at Briar Cliff (2003-06), and an assistant coach at Fort Hays (Kan.) State for two seasons (2001-03).

Gohl and her husband Eric have two children, Carson and Cate.