March 1, 2005
Release courtesy of Nick Huber, Buena Vista University sports information director

STORM LAKE, IOWA . . . The Institute for International Sport has announced that Marge Willadsen, Head Softball Coach, Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator at Buena Vista University, has been named a 2005 Sports Ethics Fellow. This year’s list of Sports Ethics fellows, called “A Celebration of Division III,” recognizes the great strides and ethical initiatives being undertaken at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III level. Willadsen is one of 12 honorees who have demonstrated an interest in promoting the ideals of ethics and fair play in sport and society.

“There can be no victory without integrity.” This quote, taken from The Softball Coaching Bible in the chapter entitled “Coaching with Integrity,” was written by Willadsen, one of only four NCAA Division III softball coaches chosen by her peers to write a chapter for this Human Kinetics text from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The topic she was asked to write about was integrity in coaching. The main focus of the chapter dealt with educating young coaches on dealing ethically with the pressures and temptations one may experience in their desire to win. She stressed that “above all” coaches must teach their players to compete with integrity, no matter what the price.

In her 25 years of coaching softball, Willadsen has never been ejected from a game. She is currently serving on the NCAA Sportsmanship & Ethical Conduct Committee and was recently elected to serve on the Ethics Committee of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Willadsen has also presented at NCAA regional student-athlete leadership conferences on the topic of sportsmanship

As the NCAA Compliance Coordinator for Buena Vista, she adheres to her own strict ethical code. Because she felt it was an important topic for her students to discuss and debate, she taught “Ethics in Coaching” for senior seminar in Exercise Science this past semester. As Willadsen has said, “If we can’t win the right way, then we won’t win. I will never compromise my integrity to get a victory.”

“As a tireless advocate for sportsmanship and ethical conduct, Marge is an ideal Sports Ethics Fellow,” said Chuck Mitrano, Commissioner of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference and Chair of the 2005 Sports Ethics Fellows Selection Committee. “She not only preaches positive behavior, but she lives it and holds others to her own high standards. She is a tremendous leader and represents all that is good and noble in our division.”

The Sports Ethics Fellows were selected from nominations submitted by their colleagues for their work as sports educators. This year’s Celebration of Division III Sports Ethics Fellows includes coaches, commissioners, professors and college administrators from institutions nationwide. In addition to Willadsen, the 2005 honorees are: Bill Beaney, Head Men’s Hockey and Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach at Middlebury College (VT); Rico Cabral Associate Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Mount Ida College (MA); Tim Gleason, Commissioner of the Ohio Athletic Conference; Dr. Todd S. Hutton, President of Utica College (NY) and the Empire 8 Athletic Conference; Roger Ingles, Interim Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach at Ohio Wesleyan University (OH); Dr. Gary Karner, Commissioner of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; Donna Ledwin, Commissioner of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference; Dr. Leon Lunder, Director of Athletics at Carleton College (MN); Dr. Glada C. Munt, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Athletics at Southwestern University; Jim Nelson, Director of Athletics at Suffolk University (MA); and Dr. Sandra Slabik, Sports Management Professor at Neumann College (PA) and Chair of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Faculty Athletic Representatives.

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