NWAC 75-Year Celebration - Steve Sauers, Green River

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The NWAC is celebrating its 75th year in existence this year after it originated in 1946 as the Washington State Junior College Athletic Conference (WSJCAC). The 75-year celebration features a unique logo and highlights some of the most influential figures in the conference over its history.

The 11th influential figure to be recognized is Steve Sauers, former men's and women's tennis coach at Green River College. Sauers was the head coach at GRC for 35 seasons, passing away in December of 2004. He was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame in 2007 with one of the most prestigious careers in NWAC history.

Sauers began the tennis programs at Green River and turned them into the most successful programs in NWAACC/NWAC history. The Gators captured 19 conference men's titles and 16 women's titles during his tenure. With 35 years of coaching and an overall total of 35 NWAACC titles, no one, in any sport, coached in the NWAACC longer or won more championships than Sauers.

His teams also had 14 runner-up finishes and an overall record of 920-173. During that time, Gator players captured the NWAACC number one singles title 18 times and the number one doubles title 23 times.

Sauers arrived at GRCC in 1966 as a Business Education instructor and began the men's tennis program four years later. A 20-time winner of the NWAACC Tennis Coach of the Year, he was preparing for his 36th season before he passed away in December of 2004.

One of the all-time most successful coaches in NWAC history in any sport, Sauers is without a doubt, one of the most infludential figures in the NWAC's 75 year history, lifting men's and women's tennis and Green River College to new heights.

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Contact: Iain Dexter; idexter@clark.edu