TACOMA, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran University head women's rowing coach Andy Foltz will relinquish his coaching duties after the 2022 NCAA Division III Championships and will transition to an administrative role in a full-time capacity as the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations. 
 
"When I got into the business of serving other people as a rowing coach I always knew that that position would evolve so that I could serve more and more people. This is one of those evolutions within my career and I'm excited for where it's heading and the number of people that I can continue to serve here at PLU in my new role," said Foltz.
 
"As sad as I am to turn this page, I'm equally excited for the new direction and thankful to Mike Snyder for allowing this to take place here at PLU. I'm also thankful to Laurie Turner for giving me that opportunity eight years ago to be the head women's rowing coach."
 
A six-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year, Foltz guided the Lutes to six consecutive NWC Championships, and six appearances to the NCAA Division III Championships. Under Foltz, the Lutes placed fourth at the national championships in 2016, PLU's highest-ever finish at the event. PLU was fifth at the 2021 Championships while placing seventh in both 2018 and 2019. 
 
"I'd like to thank Andy for everything he's done in building the PLU women's rowing program into a national power over the last eight seasons. While we will miss his presence on the water, we're excited to see Andy transition into a full-time administrator, where he can use that same energy and passion into assisting all 19 varsity sport programs," said Athletic Director Mike Snyder. 
 
His tenure saw Sydney Otey win the Elite 90 Award twice while Hannah Peterson was the program's first ever four-year All-American and twice was selected to the US Rowing Women's Under-23 Selection Camp.
 
"When I came to PLU I knew that we had a lot of potential within this team and I knew that we could grow it into something truly special. I have been shocked and amazed every year since at what the people have been able to accomplish within our team and within our department. I'm so proud of all of the results, the careers, and the impacts that people within this program have made on other people since I came here."
 
In 2018 Foltz was elevated to Assistant Athletic Director in addition to his coaching duties. Highlighting that time has been the implementation of an online ticketing system for home events and hosting the opening two rounds of the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championships at East Field, PLU's first time ever hosting the event. Foltz has additionally spearheaded facility upgrades for several programs, including a new outfield fence for baseball, windscreens for softball, and restriping the track. 
 
"I'm thrilled to continue building great relationships to enhance our athletic spaces and create once-in-a lifetime game day experiences for our student-athletes. When we hosted the men's soccer NCAA Tournament this past fall I was able to showcase some of our Game Day aspirations and I'm really looking forward to leading this new area with the same excitement and professionalism I've been able to lead our rowers the last eight seasons."
 
Foltz and the Lutes compete at the NCAA Championships on May 27 in Sarasota, Florida.