Director of Athletics Terry Gawlik has announced the hiring of Thad Hathaway as Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services at the University of Idaho.
Hathaway, who is a former Vandal track and field student-athlete, returns to Moscow after most recently serving as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Academics and Compliance at Washington State University. Hathaway will be charged with oversight of all academic and student-athlete development programming at Idaho.
Hathaway brings over two decades of experience to the Vandals, including the past 19 years at Washington State, which included three promotions as he moved up the ranks to his most recent role as Senior Associate AD for Academics & Compliance. He served on WSU's senior leadership team and represented the educational experience of student athletes, which included graduation success, academic performance, academic integrity, and NCAA compliance. Hathaway co-chaired the student-athlete experience committee for "Unleash," WSU's strategic plan, and acted as his area's liaison with the Office of the Attorney General, Faculty Athletic Representative, the Chief Compliance & Risk Office, and the Office of the Registrar.
Before his promotion to Senior Associate AD, Hathaway served eight years as WSU's Director of Student-Athlete Development, advising Cougar student-athletes in football, men's basketball, and golf. Before that, Hathaway served as Assistant Director, Student-Athlete Development from 2006-2009, and as Senior Academic Counselor from 2002-2006.
A native of La Grande, Oregon. Hathaway earned a bachelor's degree in Sport Science in 1997, followed by a master's degree in Recreation with emphasis in Sport Administration in 2002, both from the University of Idaho. He starred as a track & field athlete for the Vandals, twice winning the Big Sky Conference championship in the high jump, and earning 11th place at NCAA Nationals. In 1995, Hathaway was named to the Big Sky Academic All-American team. He transferred to Idaho from Eastern Oregon University, where he began his collegiate experience and was a three-time NAIA All-American in the high jump, including the NAIA National Champion in 1994.
Hathaway began his professional career at his alma mater, where he worked his way up from a graduate assistant position to Academic Program Advisor and eventually the Director of Athletic Academic Services. In his original stint at UI, Hathaway directed all academic programming for student-athletes and developed the Life Skills program, which was taught to all incoming freshman and transfer student-athletes.
Hathaway and his wife Diane have four sons, Cody, Gabe, Seth, and Caleb, and a daughter, Ali.
