May 11, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., - The Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics staff recently gathered for a review of the 2009-10 academic year and took the opportunity to recognize Scott Kretchmar, who has served two terms as Penn State's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative.
A professor of exercise and sport science, Dr. Kretchmar was appointed to the post on July 1, 2000 by President Graham Spanier and was re-appointed to a second five-year term in July, 2005. Kretchmar is stepping down from the NCAA FAR appointment, but will continue to teach.
Spanier was among Penn State dignitaries that attended the ceremony in Beaver Stadium's Mount Nittany Club. Also in attendance were Rodney Erickson, Executive Vice President and Provost; Lee Coraor, Chair of the Faculty Senate and Ann Crouter, Dean of the College of Health and Human Development. Also in attedance was John Coyle, who served as Penn State's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative for 35 years prior to Kretchmar's appointment, as well as Scott's wife, Janet, and many professional colleagues.
Tim Curley, Director of Athletics, presented Kretchmar with a Nittany Lion statue and a framed photograph that was signed by members of the Athletics staff.
Linda Caldwell, professor of recreation, park and tourism management, has been appointed by Dr. Spanier to serve as Penn State's NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, effective July 1.
Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, sponsoring 29 intercollegiate varsity sport programs (15 men's and 14 women's), with approximately 800 student-athletes. The Nittany Lions have won 66 team national championships all-time, including 19 NCAA titles since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1993-94, with 64 Big Ten championships.
In the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup final spring standings, Penn State was No. 3 in the standings. The Nittany Lions have finished in the final Top 25 of all 16 previous Directors' Cup surveys, with eight Top 10 finishes.
Penn State student-athletes have earned a school record Graduation Success Rate of 89 percent in the last two NCAA Graduation Rate Reports. The Nittany Lions rank third in the nation with 152 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans, including a school record 11 during the 2008-09 academic year and five more during the 2009 fall semester.