July 22, 2011
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Lynda Goodrich, who is beginning her 25th year as Director of Athletics at Western Washington University and had over 400 wins in 19 seasons as a women's basketball coach for the Vikings, will be inducted into the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet Thursday, Sept. 22 (5:30 p.m.), at the Comcast Arena (Edward D. Hansen Conference Center) in Everett.
Goodrich is one of three coach/administrators being honored. The other two are Keith Gilbertson, Sr., and Jim Lambright.
There are nine inductees in all. Six athletes being honored are Vicki Foltz (track and cross country), Chris Henderson (soccer), Sarah Jones (rowing), Curt Marsh (football), Lee Orr (track & field) and Earl Torgeson (baseball). The 1976 Snohomish High School football team also is being inducted.
It will be the fifth hall of fame for Goodrich, who already has been inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, WWU Athletics, Northwest Women's Sports and Lake Stevens High School halls.
Under Goodrich's leadership, Western has been ranked in the top 10 among 310 schools in the Division II national all-sports standings in each of the last three years, the three highest finishes in school history, and the Vikings have been the Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-sports champion in seven of the last 10 years.
Among the Western's other top accomplishments during her tenure are seven NCAA II national championships in women's rowing, top 100 national all-sports standing finishes in all 13 seasons as a NCAA II member, the last eight being among the top 50, the school's first national title when softball took the NAIA crown in 1998 and national runner-up performances in volleyball in 2007 and football in 1996.
Goodrich also has had a major impact off the field, raising funds for a strength and fitness center and various other facility upgrades and projects, introducing the Viking Night dinner and auction and a golf tournament to raise scholarship monies, and implementing a strong marketing program.
Besides numerous sports administrator of the year honors, Goodrich was named WWU Sports Impact Person of the Century (1900-2000), received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from WWU's Alumni Association in 1988 and was the Whatcom County Sports Person of the Year in 1987. She was a finalist for Whatcom County Business Woman of the Year in 1992.
As a basketball coach, Goodrich reached the 400 milestone in career victories, posting a 411-125 record in 19 campaigns at Western. She led the Vikings to three District 1 championships and two Bi-District 1 crowns, both times reaching the quarterfinals at the NAIA National Tournament; and won three regional titles and subsequent trips to the AIAW Nationals.
Goodrich was a finalist for National Division II Coach of the Year honors in 1981 and 1982. She never had a losing season, while posting 13 20-win seasons and reaching post-season play 18 times.
Prior to becoming Western's athletic director, Goodrich was an associate AD for two years and headed the women's sports program for seven years. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1966 and master's degree in 1973, both at WWU.
A graduate of Lake Stevens High School, Goodrich also coached golf, tennis, track & field and volleyball at Western.
