MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho Interim Athletics Director Pete Isakson appointed Krista Gray as the department's senior woman administrator (SWA), Friday. Gray was hired last month as Idaho's Director of Student-Athlete Support Services.
 
"The role of the senior woman administrator is vital to a healthy and successful athletic department," Isakson said. "We are fortunate to have Krista, a highly-qualified individual who is ready and excited to take on the responsibilities. She will be a strong advocate for all of our student-athletes, as well as a role model and confidant for female student-athletes and staff."
 
As the SWA, Gray will be a member of the department's senior staff. She will be counted on for input and direction on management and leadership decisions for the Vandals and the Big Sky Conference.
 
In her day-to-day role, Gray is responsible for planning and providing resources and programming to support student-athletes in their academic, personal and professional pursuits. She oversees a staff of two full-time academic coordinators, two graduate assistants and various learning specialists and tutors.
 
Gray arrived in Moscow after nearly a year as the assistant director for academic services at the University of Illinois. Prior to Illinois, Gray spent nearly five years at the University of Missouri. She worked her way up from an intern in the academic services department to the academic coordinator for men's basketball and softball, a position she held for two years before moving to Illinois.
 
A former women's soccer student-athlete at Defiance College, Gray's career in collegiate athletics began as a coach.
 
The SWA is the highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office. The SWA designation was created by the NCAA in 1981 – the same year it added women's championships. The purpose of the designation is to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college athletics.
 
Idaho volleyball head coach Debbie Buchanan served as the interim SWA for much of 2018, following the departure of compliance director Jessica Atkins who held the designation since 2013.