| Year: | 2021 |
| Sport(s): | Contributor |
Sue Grigsby
Sue Grigsby was hired at EvCC in 1983 as women’s head coach of the cross country and track and field program. While the program had some solid athletes, like Hall of Famer Vicki Foltz, the program had struggled with inconsistent participation prior to Sue’s arrival. The college’s budget was also in turmoil, and despite Sue’s best efforts, the program was eventually dropped after the 1986 track season. Sue stayed at Everett CC as part time faculty and became full time in 1999 while also serving as the chair of the health and physical education department.
In 1992 Sue was appointed as the women’s commissioner representative for Everett Community College and was actively involved as a voting member of the commission. She was well respected within the NWAC community serving as the Track and Field/Cross Country committee chair for many years, contributing to several code proposals and the development of the North Region Handbook.
As the budget climate improved Sue was heavily involved in bringing a number of sports back to Everett Community College. At the time the only sports offered were men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, and men’s soccer. Along with Athletic Director Larry Walker and Vice President of Student Services Rich Haldi, the team was able to bring on women’s soccer in 1998, softball in 1999, and baseball in 2001, along with men’s and women’s cross country and track and field. Sue was named the head coach, and coached both cross country and track and field up until 2003.
In her 34 year career at Everett, Sue made an impact on hundreds of students lives as well as the EvCC campus community. She started the first EvCC athletics website as well as the annual Turkey Trot fun run which also doubles as a food drive fundraiser now used to support the EvCC food pantry and played an integral role in the planning and development of the Walt Price Student Fitness Center. Sue was consistently involved in campus committees and thrived in her role as an academic advisor. Even after she stepped down from coaching she was always seen supporting the student athletes attending games and events throughout the year for all of the sports.
Sue’s contributions stretch beyond Everett CC, starting three separate scholarship funds; one at the University of Oregon, and two at Humboldt State University where she is a member of the Humboldt State Athletic Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as an elite track athlete breaking school records in the 800, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000m events. She was also named one of Humboldt State’s Distinguished Alumni in 2010. Sue currently resides in Lake Stevens, WA and can frequently be found competing with her Australian Shepherd, Jinks in canine agility competitions.
