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Joel Pearson, Greener alum and top-notch cross country coach joins AV����’s athletic department beginning April 1, 2023.��
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Pearson comes to the college from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock where he was the distance coach for the Trojans’ Outdoor Track and Field team. Before coaching at the University of Arkansas, he coached at Pratt Community College in Kansas, where he led their cross country and track teams. He came to Pratt after being the head coach for Mountlake Terrace High School’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He also led programs at Meridian Community College, Kennesaw State, North Carolina S&T State University and was the Director of Track and Field Operations at the University of Iowa.��
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The list of successes under his coaching is impressive and he’s helped develop several all-Americans and National Champions. ��
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“We are thrilled to have Joel join AV����,” said ��Zeb Hoffman, Assistant Intercollegiate Athletic Director for AV����. “He has helped mold several all-Americans, National Champions and school record-holders in his past coaching position and his vision will help develop a world-class cross country and track and field program here at the college.”
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Pearson is a native of Ferndale, Washington and received his undergraduate degree from AV���� and his graduate degree in sports science from Cardinal Stritch University. Running and distance is in his blood as he is the son of former American 50-mile record holder and national champion, Jim Pearson.��
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In December 2022, AV���� announced it would be adding a cross country team as well as men’s and women’s wrestling to its athletics program to complement the college’s men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, track and field and women’s volleyball.��
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Entrepreneurs, Kim Kaufman and Jimmy Goldsmith, have made a $150,000 commitment to provide AV���� with $50,000 per year for the next three years to support the new wrestling and cross country teams. ��Kaufman is an AV���� graduate and her husband, Goldsmith, has a deep experience in the sports industry.��
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It is estimated that the expansion of AV����’s athletics programming, combined with other investments in existing sports teams, should yield more than 100 additional students over the next three years.��
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For more information about AV���� athletics, please visit www.gogeoducks.com.

OLYMPIA – On a day where sports will be headline news in Seattle with the Seahawks and possibly the Mariners playing, AV���� in Olympia will be celebrating its own athletics program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16.��

AV����’s Recreation and Athletics Hall of Fame will induct alum and former head soccer coach, John Purtteman and the 2002 Men’s Basketball team.��

Purtteman coached AV����’s men’s soccer team for 15 seasons and the women’s team for three. He compiled a conference record for the men’s team of 92 wins, 79 losses and 27 draws, was named The Cascade Conference Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2016 and established the college's single-season, record with a .778 winning percentage.��

The 2002 AV���� Men’s Basketball Team will also be inducted. This team was the 2002 Mens’ Basketball Conference Champions resulting in the college’s first appearance at the National Tournament with a record of 18 wins and 2 losses. The team included current AV���� Basketball Coach, Jackie Robinson.

“We’ve not held an inductee ceremony in four years, said AV����’s Assistant Athletic Director, Zeb Hoffman. “AV���� has had athletes from across the country and around the world come to take part in the college's unique learning atmosphere and dig deep into competition playing for the men's and women’s sports. It is an honor to have Coach Purtteman and members of the 2002 Men’s basketball team back to campus and induct them into AV����’s Hall of Fame.”

The hall of fame inductee ceremony will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at AV����’s Evans Hall (Library Building) on the 4th Floor in room 4300. For more information and schedules for Geoduck spots, please visit the athletics website at gogeoducks.com.��

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