Whits Hire Mcquilkin As A.D. Former Baseball Coach Back To Take School Into D-Iii
Contrary to popular belief, Scott McQuilkin, Whitworth College’s new athletic director, will not try to change the school’s mascot from a Pirate to a Nittany Lion.
He will not try to lure the Penn State Nittany Lions’ legendary football coach, Joe Paterno, to Whitworth, either.
McQuilkin, who earned his Ph.D at Penn State University and loves that school’s football team with a burning passion, was named the Pirates’ athletic director on Monday.
He takes over for Kevin Bryant, who left in August to take an associate athletic director’s position at Portland State University.
“Scott has distinguished himself as a scholar and a coach,” Whitworth president Bill Robinson said. “He is also a very warm and caring person, who sees the intellectual and spiritual development of students as part of the coach’s task.”
McQuilkin, 32, was Whitworth’s baseball coach from 1985-90. During that time, the Pirates won four NAIA District I regular-season championships and advanced to the NAIA Western Regional playoffs in 1987, ‘89 and ‘90. He was named the NAIA District I coach of the year in ‘87 and ‘89 and was Northwest Conference coach of the year in 1990.
He was also an assistant baseball coach at Penn State from 1991-93 and was head coach of an Athletes in Action baseball team that toured Europe in 1990.
“As a former coach, I lived this life, and I loved this life,” McQuilkin said. “I believe I can be an able advocate for my staff to the Whitworth administration and fellow faculty members.”
The challenges in his new position are immediately upon him. Whitworth will move from the NAIA ranks to the NCAA Division III level next year. Full membership will be granted in 1998.
“The challenge we will face will be the competition for student-athletes with other schools with larger endowments than Whitworth,” he said.
NCAA Division III schools are forbidden to provide financial aid to any student-athlete except upon showing financial need.
Still, Robinson, McQuilkin and the athletic staff are up to the challenge.
“Intercollegiate athletics is more than just a participatory experience. By that I mean, students and coaches are involved in an activity that, by design, includes victory as a desirable outcome.
“I share the same goals as our staff and the many student-athletes with whom I am in daily contact - we want to produce quality programs that win.”
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