Shaney Fink arrived in Seattle as the Director of Athletics in November 2016 and was elevated to Vice President of Athletics in September 2024. Fink has provided a steadfast focus on creating an unparalleled learning environment for student athletes to emerge as exemplars of the greater Seattle University mission.
STUDENT ATHLETE EXPERIENCE
With a focus on a first-class holistic student athlete experience, Fink’s initial efforts centered on the creation of an integrated student services team to ensure a collaborative and seamless experience for student athletes. The initiative led to the hiring of a diverse team of dynamic student service professionals across the areas of academic support, compliance, athletic performance and sports medicine. Mental health and nutrition programs were added as well as the department’s first dedicated sports psychologist and nutritionist. A renovation of the academic services support center has enhanced accessibility for students and created a branded study space.
In 2020, the Redhawk Experience (TREx) was launched. TREx was designed to highlight Seattle University’s Jesuit education and integrate an Ignatian framework to the student athlete experience. Nine TREx program areas serve to support the development in mind, body and spirit, and ensure student athletes emerge as empowered exemplars of the Seattle University mission and proud Redhawks for Life. In 2023-24, the TREx app was instituted, designed to deepen engagement with the Redhawk Experience and collect data on participation and impact.
Committed to holistic development, Seattle University’s SOAR Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program focuses on professional formation, including financial literacy, personal branding, marketing and communication skills, empowering student athletes to leverage NIL while preparing for success beyond sports.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The results speak for themselves as Redhawk student athletes excel in the classroom, competitive arena and the community. The Redhawks are currently on a 14-term streak of earning a 3.3 + GPA as student athletes regularly outperform the general student population. First-time-in-college (FTIC) retention rates have improved to 90%+. In 2020 and 2021, Seattle University was honored with the Western Athletic Conference’s Academic Excellence Award.
COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE
Competitively, the Redhawks are soaring under Fink’s watch. From 2022-2024 under Head Coach Chris Victor, men’s basketball accomplished three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1957-59. Along the way, the program captured its first Western Athletic Conference regular season title (2022), the winningest DI season since 1957-58, its first appearance in a DI national poll since 1964-65, the highest NET ranking in the ranking system’s history at No. 61 and the 2024 College Basketball Invitational Championship.
Seattle University has won 34 regular season and tournament WAC championships under Fink, including six by women’s soccer and five by men’s soccer. First year Head Coach Nate Daligcon lead the 2023 men’s soccer team to an undefeated regular season WAC Championship, their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years and a No. 9 national ranking - the program’s highest ever in Division I. Coach Daligcon was named WAC Coach of the Year and his staff earned Far West Staff of the Year honors.
Men’s golf (2017), women’s golf (2024), women’s basketball (2018), softball (2019, 2021) captured WAC Championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Redhawk history.
In May 2024, Seattle University accepted an invitation to join the West Coast Conference beginning July 1, 2025, a move that elevates the university and provides alignment in academics, athletics and geography.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In addition to success in competition and in the classroom, Redhawk student athletes have deep relationships in the community, enhanced by the support of the university’s Center for Community Engagement. The Redhawks are particularly active as peer mentors at Washington Middle School, Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, St. Francis House, among other local organizations.
DEVELOPMENT AND CAPITAL PROJECTS
The ever-growing support of donors to the Redhawk Club has played a critical role in the recent success. Since 2017, the number of donors has increased 10%+ year-over-year. Annual gifts continue to grow including $2.8M+ secured in 2024.
The development and implementation of the athletics facilities master plan has included upgrades to the sports medicine center, men’s basketball team lounge and office suite, Redhawk Center video boards and game day production, as well as covered hitting and pitching cages for baseball at Bannerwood Park. In 2022 women’s rowing moved into a new shellhouse on Salmon Bay and in 2023, the Redhawk competition pool was renovated, funded in part by a grant from the Names Foundation.
In 2024, the Wright Family Athletic Performance Center officially opened. Utilized by all Redhawk sport programs, the space includes all brand-new equipment, flooring, lighting, new sound system and television displays. In partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, force plates and a camera monitoring allow for enhanced biomechanics testing and research opportunities for the Department of Kinesiology. An additional 600 square feet is dedicated to a fueling and nutrition station, rehabilitation space, and workstations for the athletic performance staff.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Fink was recognized by her peers as the 2021-22 NACDA Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year. She also serves as a member of the NACDA 1-AAA Executive Committee, including as 2nd Vice President for the 2024-25 year, NCAA Nominating Committee and is a longtime member of Women Leaders in Sports.
On campus Fink has been tapped as a campus leader serving on the President’s Roundtable and formerly served on the Strategic Plan Committee.
PRIOR TO SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
Fink came to Seattle University from the University of San Diego where she served as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator. Her full tenure at USD spanned more than 17 years and included roles in compliance and student services, academic support and as an assistant volleyball coach for the Toreros.
A graduate of the Women Leaders in Sports (formerly NACWAA) Executive Institute, Fink participated in the NCAA Pathways program after completing the 2015 NACWAA Executive Institute in Kansas City in 2015. In 2013 she was named NCAA Division I FCS Administrator of the Year by NACWAA.
During the 1999 season, Fink assisted the Torero volleyball coaching staff, helping USD to a 23-6 record and second round finish in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to USD she gained coaching experience at the high school, college (Colgate University) and international levels. Upon completion of her collegiate volleyball career at University of California at Berkeley, she competed professionally in beach and indoor volleyball, domestically and internationally.
Fink earned her B.A. in Social Science from UC Berkeley and her Master's Degree at USD in Counseling.
Shaney Fink