The man who has overseen Gonzaga University’s incredible run in athletics over the last quarter-of-a-century announced his retirement on Tuesday.
Mike Roth will leave on August 31 after 24 years as athletic director and 34 years in Gonzaga’s athletics department.“I’ve watched so many of our student-athletes that are now sons and daughters of former student athletes that are here. I’ve watched our staff develop into families, where they meet their spouse and they start to have families, whatever might be the case. I’ve watched so many people grow. It’s been so fantastic. It’s been so rewarding," he said.
During Roth’s tenure, Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team has grown into one of the most elite programs in the country, playing in the national championship game two of the past five years. The women’s basketball team is also a perennial West Coast Conference champion and participant in the national tournament. The baseball team recently played in the national tournament.
Roth will be replaced by one of his proteges, Chris Standiford, who has worked in the Gonzaga athletics department for the last 28 years.