Athletic Director
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Mike Roth enters his ninth year as Gonzaga University's athletic director and under his leadership the Bulldogs athletic programs have grown from a recognized regional power to a player on the national scene.
After taking over as acting athletic director in July, 1997, and being named athletic director in September of 1998, the men's basketball team has flourished into one of the nation's elite programs. The Bulldogs have made nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances dating back to 1999 when they captured the hearts of a nation with their Elite Eight run. Over the nine years, the Zags have also reached the Sweet Sixteen three times (2000, 2001, and 2006) and earned a Top 10 final national ranking four times; 2002 - No. 6, 2004- No. 3, 2005 - No. 10 and 2006 - No. 5. Also during Roth's tenure the men's basketball team has won eight West Coast Conference Tournament titles and had five All-America nods.
The women's basketball team made its inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007 after winning it's inaugural WCC Tournament title. The Zags also appeared in two WNIT Tournaments (2004, 2005) and have won three straight WCC regular-season titles. The men's soccer team was the WCC Co-Champions in 2000 and earned it's first NCAA Tournament at-large bid in 2001. The women's soccer squad made its inaugural appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2005 after earning its first national ranking that season. The Bulldogs were ranked 19th in Soccer America and 22nd in Soccer Buzz. The women's rowing team has become a powerhouse, winning 10 of 11 WCC Championships, including nine-straight from 1997-2005. Baseball has also become a WCC contender, having made the conference championship series in both 2001 and 2007. The Zags returned to the national rankings in 2006, ranked 29th by Collegiate Baseball.
The Gonzaga athletic program also has had extreme success in the classroom during Roth's tenure. The Bulldogs have averaged a 3.0 GPA or higher in 18-straight semesters dating to the fall of 1998. The 2006-07 academic year was the most successful yet with a 3.30 fall and spring semester GPA to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.25. During his nine years at the helm, 820 student-athletes have been named to the President's List (3.7 GPA or higher), while 680 student-athletes have been named to the Dean's List (3.5-3.69 GPA).
In addition, 155 student-athletes have earned WCC All-Academic recognition. The Bulldogs are also first in total number of student-athletes named to the WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll since its inception in 2004.
On the national scale, nine student-athletes have garnered CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America accolades, including two-time honorees George Josten (2005, 2006 - men's soccer), Blake Stepp (2003, 2004 - men's basketball) and Jared Hertz (2000, 2001 - baseball).
Roth has overseen the upgrades of multiple facilities during his tenure. In 2003, Gonzaga added the Kermit Rudolf Fitness Center for Gonzaga students, faculty and staff. The state-of-the-art fitness center includes two levels, housing fitness and strength training zones. In 2004, GU opened the McCarthey Athletic Center, a 6,000 seat basketball arena which is the new home for both the Bulldog men's and women's basketball squads. The men's team continues to play before sellout crowds while the women's attendance leads the West Coast Conference. In 2005, Gonzaga opened the Harry A. Green Indoor Rowing Facility giving GU one of the most progressive indoor training facilities on the West Coast. The 5,225-square foot facility houses more than fifty rowing machines and three high-definition plasma televisions that are integrated into a computerized rowing program that allows student-athletes to compete with each other as a team. Finally in 2006, Roth and Gonzaga added Patterson Baseball Complex and Washington Trust Field. The home to Bulldog baseball is an advanced lighted facility that incorporates an old-time baseball feel. The new stadium includes 1,300 theater-style seats and classic brick detailing.
Up next for Roth and Gonzaga is a new soccer stadium which is presently in the planning and fundraising stages. The stadium is projected to be designed as a three-phase project that will include a new playing field and practice facility, grandstand, restroom, concessions, locker rooms and lights.
Roth's ties to Gonzaga extend far beyond his time as Athletic Director. He was an assistant men's basketball coach under Jay Hillock in 1982-83, then returned in September, 1986, as a physical education instructor. In January, 1987, he joined the athletic department as assistant athletic director/Martin Centre Director. In that span his responsibilities expanded to include direct administration for 10 of Gonzaga's 14 sports programs. In 1991 he was designated the university's compliance officer to the NCAA, overseeing all matters pertaining to student-athletic eligibility at the institutional and NCAA level.
Roth is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Spokane Sports Association (GSSA), worked the 1990 Goodwill Games as the weightlifting coordinator, and was Sports Director for the 1989 Washington State Centennial Games. He chaired the GSSA/ Sportswriters and Broadcasters Sports Awards Banquet, and was banquet co-chair for two years.
A native of Moses Lake, Wash., Roth played basketball at Big Bend Community College, and finished his collegiate career at Willamette University where he graduated with a B.S. in sociology in 1979. He received his master's in athletic administration and physical education from Gonzaga in 1983. His coaching career also included stints as an assistant men's basketball coach at Big Bend CC and Spokane CC.
Roth and his wife Linda have two sons, Brad (5/13/89), a current Gonzaga student, and Matt (12/8/91).
