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Orban to Retire | Purple Haze Looms Over Western Hall | WIU Alumnus up for Coordinator of the Year

Orban to Retire After 28 Years of Service

After 28 years of service in the Western Illinois University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Associate Athletics Director Kathy Orban MS '77 will retire on December 31, 2008. 

Orban joined the Westerwinds athletics department in August 1980 as an assistant field hockey coach and was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director in January 1985, taking over responsibilities of public relations, promotions, the Westerwinds Athletic Club and home event management

In the spring of 1994, near the time the men and women merged departments, Orban was named Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and took on the role of Senior Women’s Administrator. She has since been responsible for eligibility, financial aid, athletic academic services and recruiting related to NCAA and conference requirements. She has also overseen the administration of several sport programs.

“Kathy is a true pioneer in the intercollegiate athletics industry,” said Western Illinois Athletics Director Tim Van Alstine. “She has weathered some dramatic and progressive changes during her tenure here at Western, and she has led the charge on many innovative initiatives which have advanced our department and our institution. One thing has remained constant, however. She has always put the student-athlete first.”

Click here to read more on Orban.

Purple Haze Looms over Western Hall

The debut of “The Purple Haze” student section was felt throughout Western Hall in mid November as students packed the new section created just for them.

Each student was given a free tie-dye shirt for coming out to support the Westerwinds in their victory over Robert Morris College.

“The response was greater than we expected and I just want to thank all the students who came out to show their support,” said Tom Radz '01 MA '03, director of marketing and promotions for Western Athletics. “It was hard not to notice that there was a different atmosphere in Western Hall and that was directly related to The Purple Haze.”

Radz went on to mention that Athletics plans on retaining the momentum of the section by handing out more tie-dye t-shirts as long as students want them.

Click here to read more on The Purple Haze.

WIU Alumnus Nominated for Football Coordinator of the Year

Western Illinois University graduate Todd Auer '88 MS '94 is a national finalist for the NCAA Division 2 Football Coordinator of the Year. Auer was an outstanding defensive lineman at Western. He was named to the National Strength Team in 1985 and received first-team All-American honors from both Football News and Kodak as a senior in 1986. He also was a second-team Academic All-American as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America. In the fall of 1989, Auer helped coach the Western Illinois football team.

For the past 19 years, Coach Auer has been on the coaching staff at Chadron State College in Nebraska, serving as the Defensive Coordinator for the past 15 years. The Chadron State Eagles football team has been the NCAA Division 2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions for the past 3 years, going undefeated in conference play 3 years in a row.

Voting for the Coordinator of the Year award, which is sponsored by Muscle Milk, will take place through Friday, Dec. 5. Winners will be announced beginning on Dec. 7. The public is invited to participate in the initial voting by clicking here.

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