Photo-Credit: Idaho State Journal
Seiji Wood
Sports Editor
President Kevin Satterlee has named Pauline Thiros ISU’s interim athletic director.
Prior to naming Thiros, the university said that the interim athletic director would not be considered an applicant for the permanent position, which was left vacant by former athletic director Jeff Tingey when he was placed on paid administrative leave Aug. 31.
Thiros’s main goal as interim athletic director is to set the stage for the next athletic director.
A committee is expected to be appointed by President Satterlee to undergo a national search for a new athletic director. This process may take four to six months. Thiros will lead the athletic department until there’s a permanent hire for the position.
“I’m excited,” Thiros said. “I love athletics. I loved athletics when I competed in volleyball here as a student-athlete and I haven’t really stopped since.”
Thiros came to ISU in 1990 as a walk-on volleyball player, and her teammates voted her captain all four years. She earned Big Sky all-academic honors in her junior and senior seasons and was named the Big Sky Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1994. She was inducted into the ISU Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Thiros has worked in various roles at ISU and is currently the Associate Vice President for Development. She has previously been the Director of Planned Giving, Director of Alumni Relations, and assistant volleyball coach and recruiting coordinator.
Thiros successfully directed ISU’s first capital campaign, which kicked off in 2001. The campaign raised more than $152 million and resulted in the construction of the Stephens Performing Arts Center.
“We’re taking a hard look and assessing our programs, protocols, business processes, and everything that we do in the athletic department,” Thiros said. “We’re making them as efficient as we can…putting some needed protocols in place if that’s the case. We’re just confirming that we’re doing the right thing, which in a lot of areas we are.”
With Thiros once being a student-athlete herself, she may be able to relate and know the needs of the student-athletes currently at ISU.
“I am here to make sure that we’re looking out for the student-athletes, that they’re having a great experience,” said Thiros, “And that we’re always serving our mission, which is centered on our student athletes and their well-being and their success.”
Those are Thiros’ main areas of focus and she has plenty of support behind her to help accomplish her vision during her time as athletic director.
“I am excited to appoint Pauline as interim athletic director,” President Satterlee said in a press release. “Pauline has demonstrated a unique ability to lead effective operations and build successful relationships with the community and friends of ISU. Her passion for athletics is evident and will surely translate to a strong focus on the success of our student-athletes.”
Thiros mention how much it meant to her to have President Satterlee entrust this task to her and is motivated by it to do the best she can for all the student-athletes.
“I value that confidence tremendously,” Thiros said. “I really value that I seem to have the trust and confidence here from my colleagues in athletes for the next four to six months.”
Thiros has a goal, a plan to achieve it and the support of many.
“They [student-athletes] are the reason that Idaho State University and Bengal athletics exists,” Thiros said. “I am devoted to, and I know that everyone in this department that I’ve worked with so far, is very devoted in doing everything we can to help them be successful.”
