ARCATA, Calif. ­— The longest tenured athletic director in Humboldt State University history, after bleeding green and gold for more than three decades, has decided it's time to retire.

Dan Collen, 61, will finish his HSU career at the end of the 2016 fall sports season after 15 years of leading HSU Athletics and 35 years of service to Humboldt State.

"I have been blessed to have been involved with HSU Athletics," Collen said. "It's been an honor to work alongside such a tremendous staff and to work for some excellent leaders. I am very appreciative of the faith that Vice President Steve Butler showed in me back in 2001 to put me in charge of the program, and it has been great to work for presidents Alistair McCrone, Rollin Richmond, and Lisa Rossbacher."

President Rossbacher has indicated that the University will finalize plans to launch a national search for a new athletic director in the next few weeks.

Collen became athletic director in December of 2001, and his era ushered in a four-fold increase in athletic scholarships and a steady improvement in facilities to the point that Humboldt State has some of the better facilities in NCAA Division II.

"Dan's enthusiasm, love of sports, and commitment to student-athletes has been a hallmark of Humboldt State University's program," said HSU President Lisa A. Rossbacher. "His leadership has helped create a tradition of student success on the field, the courts, the track, the water, and the classroom and laboratory. He will be missed, but he has established a strong foundation for the future."

Major facility improvements during Collen's 15-year career as athletic director include the construction of the $48 million Kinesiology & Athletics Building which houses Lumberjack Arena, the completion of College Creek Field (home to men's and women's soccer), the building of the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center (home to women's rowing), and improvements to the Softball Field and Redwood Bowl.

"We've done some great things here with our facilities," Collen said. "We have laid the foundation for success year after year. We owe this tremendous success to the campus and to the community. We would not have the many successes on the field and in the classroom without great support from our presidents over the years and from the community that year after year supports us in our many areas of fundraising."

During Collen's tenure the Lumberjacks won three national championships (2008 softball, 2012 rowing, and 2014 rowing) and five additional top-5 national finishes (men's basketball  in 2004, rowing in 2004 and 2011, and softball in 2013 and 2016). There were also a combined 28 NCAA West Region appearances, four NCAA West Region championships, 23 team conference championships, and 75 student-athletes who earned All-American honors.

"It's all about the student-athletes," Collen said. "My approach as athletic director has been to do whatever possible to enhance the student-athlete experience. My focus has been on increasing scholarships and improving facilities."         

Collen's success is rooted in administrative experience that includes 20 years as director of Humboldt State's Center Activities. He served on a variety of non-profit organizations and community boards, including the management of the Arcata Community Pool and as president of the Arcata Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber honored Collen for his achievements, naming him City of Arcata Business Leader of the Year in 2001. He also served as president of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Executive Council and on numerous NCAA committees. Collen served two four-year terms as an elected trustee of the Northern Humboldt Union High School School Board.

"I have a lot of loyalty to the department and the University, from my years as a student, a coach, and an employee," Collen said. "There's a long tradition within the athletics program of providing students with a quality academic experience. I'm proud to have been able to contribute to that tradition."
Collen was instrumental in developing an Athletics Academic Coordinator position in spring of 2013 that helps student-athletes develop strategies to ensure academic and career success in addition to their time spent training and competing. 

Collen's understanding of the coaching realm stems from his previous roles at the high school, college, and United States Volleyball Association levels beginning in 1977. He served as the Lumberjacks head volleyball coach for four seasons from 1989 to 1992 and compiled a career record of 83-44, including a 31-7 single season record in 1990.

He was an assistant coach for the HSU women's volleyball team and the head coach of the men's club team from 1977-79. Previously, Collen was the head coach of College of the Redwoods in 1981 and also coached high school and numerous nationally-ranked USVBA teams.

Growing up in Laguna Beach, Calif., taught Collen a few things about community and being passionate about athletics. When he came to Humboldt State in the 1970s to pursue his college education, he found a supportive faculty and staff that allowed him to pursue his passions.

"I visited other campuses where I saw that the students were lost in the crowd. It wasn't like that at Humboldt. I was a face with a name," Collen said.

Collen's primary passion was volleyball. "As soon as I got here, I went to the women's volleyball coach and talked about my love for volleyball. They saw that I could play and had an interest in becoming a coach, so they let me volunteer to be an assistant coach," Collen said.

Collen found the willingness to give students hands-on experience the general rule at Humboldt and not the exception.

"I worked with the housing office to create a summer youth volleyball camp. It made money for the program, and also helped pay for my education. It was an opportunity where I was allowed to take the ball and run with it," Collen said. He was a kinesiology major with a goal of becoming a coach or a teacher.

"The community was also very supportive," Collen said. "I did volleyball clinics and camps for the local school districts. It created many personal contacts which helped me when it was time to find a student teaching position."

Following retirement from HSU, Collen is looking forward to spending time with family, traveling, skiing, and returning to compete on the tennis and volleyball courts.           
  
Humboldt State Athletic Directors (Men's and Women's)
Dan Collen, 2001-2016
Mike Swan, 1999-2001
Scott Barnes, 1997-1999
Scott Nelson, 1995-1997
Chuck Lindemenn, 1985-1995
Dick Niclai, 1982-1985
Frank Cheek, 1981-1982
 
Humboldt State Athletic Directors (Men's)
Bud Van Deren, 1975-1981
Ced Kinzer, 1970-1975
Larry Kerker, 1966-1970
Joseph Forbes, 1965-1966
Larry Kerker, 1962-1965
Phil Sarboe, 1950-1962
Lloyd Whetstone, 1948-1950
Joseph Forbes, 1946-1948
Harry Griffith, 1941-1942
Herb Hart, 1938-1941
Fred Telonicher, 1936-1938
 
Humboldt State Athletic Directors (Women's)
Lynn Warner, 1977-1981
Betty Partain, 1974-1977
Barbara van Putten, 1970-1974