COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus College recently finalized a restructuring plan which will position the College and the athletics department for further growth and development.
Laura Moliken will assume the role of Vice President for Health and Wellness after serving as the Director of Athletics since 2010. Erin Stroble was promoted to the Director of Athletics position after serving in various administrative roles, most recently as Deputy Director of Athletics.
Moliken will continue to oversee athletics, as well as the Ursinus College wellness center, and will work to build out a new Health and Wellness division for the College which will include physician services, counseling, prevention, and advocacy. The division will also look to build-out programming and initiatives around campus health and wellness with the focus being on educating students about overall wellbeing and healthy lifestyle choices.
"Mental health and overall wellbeing should continue to be a major point of emphasis on every college campus," Moliken said. "Our students are dealing with a variety of challenges on a daily basis. As educators we can help them prepare for an ever-changing world, navigate daily challenges and more importantly help them recognize how to care for themselves so they are well prepared once they graduate."
During Moliken's 12-year tenure as the Director of Athletics, the Ursinus Athletic Department has experienced unprecedented growth and success in staff development, facilities and programs, and academic and athletic excellence. Moliken increased the number of full-time head coaches within the department and spearheaded the renovation of Patterson Field that serves as the home of Ursinus football, soccer, lacrosse, and track & field. The renovation was a $2.2M project that included installation of a synthetic turf field (installed by Deluxe Athletics), along with the addition of a new press box, as well as resurfacing the outdoor track and creation of a new venue for jumping and field events. Moliken assisted with the design of the current Ursinus Bears logos and serves on the college's virus task force, helping to coordinate COVID-19 testing efforts on the campus since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
Prior to becoming Director of Athletics, Moliken served as the head field hockey coach for 12 seasons and led the team to great success on the national stage. Under her leadership, the Bears won seven consecutive Centennial Conference Championships, the 2003 ECAC Mid-Atlantic Region Championship, made five trips to the NCAA Final Four and topped it off by winning the Division III NCAA National Championship in 2006. During her time as Director of Athletics, Ursinus has won 14 Centennial Conference Championships in the sports of field hockey, wrestling, women's swimming, and men's lacrosse.
"Laura has been a mentor for me for twenty years, and I am proud of the successes we have achieved for Ursinus Athletics," Stroble added. "I'm eager to build on that foundation and continue that positive momentum in this new role. I'm proud to work closely with the administrative team and the rest of our athletic department staff to continue to support and advocate for our student-athletes."
A 2002 graduate of Ursinus, Erin Stroble becomes the first former Bear student-athlete to serve as Director of Athletics after serving as an administrator in the Ursinus Athletic Department for 18 years. Stroble was head coach of the women's lacrosse team and held the title of Assistant Athletic Director from 2004 to 2011 after her decorated career as a lacrosse student-athlete for the Bears. As a student-athlete she was the first woman in Ursinus College history to be named First Team All-American and First Team Academic All-American.
"I am so thrilled Erin has agreed take on this important role, Moliken added "She has been a tremendous leader for Ursinus athletics and is beyond ready to leave her mark. I am looking forward to our continued collaboration as we work together for the benefit of Ursinus students."
Stroble was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in 2011 before being named Senior Associate Athletic Director in 2018. She was recently named as Deputy Athletic Director in 2021 and has been instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the Ursinus Athletic Department including mentoring of staff and coaches, oversight of Athletic Operations and Athletic Communications, and department planning and initiatives. Stroble has overseen practice, game, and facility scheduling, NCAA Compliance, and academic monitoring while spending time as the Senior Woman Administrator and representing Ursinus College at the Centennial Conference and NCAA levels.
"I'm excited for this opportunity primarily because of our talented and committed staff and our highly motivated student-athletes," Stroble said. "Taking on this leadership role is a privilege that I embrace. This structural change is a benefit to our Athletics Division and to the College as a whole, because it will allow for Laura's increased influence as part of the Senior College leadership team while maintaining her oversight of athletics."