Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Whitworth hires new athletic director

Tim Demant
Whitworth University has hired Tim Demant as its new athletic director. He comes from Goshen College in Indiana where he had served in the same job there the past six years. “Tim Demant will be a great leader for the Pirates’ athletics program because he is a competitor himself, having achieved success in a variety of roles including as coach and administrator,” Whitworth President Beck A. Taylor said in a news release. “Tim brings years of seasoned experience as an athletics director, and he fully embraces the values and mission of Whitworth University.” Demant replaces interim athletic director Melinda Larson who served in that role since last June when Aaron Leetch announced he would return to Illinois State after directing Whitworth’s 20 sports teams for two years. Steve Schadt, Whitworth’s swimming coach, chaired the search committee that resulted in the hire of Demant. “It was apparent very early in the process that Tim has a genuine heart for student-athletes and he will be a tremendous colleague for everyone within our department,” Schadt said. Prior to his move to Goshen six years ago, Demant was the athletics director and head men’s volleyball coach at Columbia Bible College, in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, from 1998-2008. A native of Ontario, Canada, Demant earned his bachelor’s degree from Trinity Western University, in Langley, B.C, where he was a standout volleyball player. He twice earned CCAA All-Canadian honors. Following graduation, in 1995, he immediately was hired as TWU’s interim men’s volleyball coach. He then served two more seasons as the Spartans’ top assistant coach before moving to Columbia Bible. “I am excited about joining a great team of people committed to excellence in all areas in order to impact the lives of the students we serve,” he said. “Whitworth University is truly a special place, and I am excited be a part of the team.”