Dr. Earl Woudstra of Northwestern College has been selected as the 2017-18 Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Athletic Director of the Year. The award is voted on by the league’s athletic directors.
Woudstra has been athletic director at Northwestern College for four seasons after serving as head women’s basketball coach for the Red Raiders. Under Woudstra’s leadership Northwestern won the 2017-18 GPAC All-Sports Trophy. The All-Sports title was the first for Northwestern. The Red Raiders placed 7th in the final 2017-18 NAIA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings.
Woudstra is a member of the NAIA Hall-of-Fame after winning four National Championships while the head women’s basketball coach at Northwestern (2000, 08, 10, 11). His son, Brandon, was inducted into the NAIA Hall of the Fame for men’s basketball this past year in honor of his outstanding career at Northwestern.
“I want to congratulate Earl on this honor,” said Corey Westra, GPAC Commissioner. “His leadership was a big part of the banner year Northwestern had both on the field and in the classroom. He has been at Northwestern since 1989 and his impact on Red Raider athletics is immeasurable” added Westra.
“Earl possesses a tremendous work ethic and seeks to empower his coaching staff at Northwestern College so they, in turn, can administer quality programs,” said Dordt College Athletic Director Ross Douma. “His greatest attribute is his moral character and integrity. He is an individual who possesses high moral standards and is able to convey these to others through his words and actions in a non-threatening manner. He lives out the five core values that comprise the NAIA Champions of Character.”
He will be the GPAC nominee for the NAIA Athletic Director of the Year.
Woudstra and his wife Karen live in Orange City, Iowa. They have four married children and 12 grandchildren.
