Induction Yr Sport Years

2016 College President 1990-2005

Dr. Stephen Kridelbaugh was the College’s president for 15 years (1990 to 2005) and had a profound impact on our campus.His efforts to enhance the higher education opportunities on the South Coast will benefit future generations to come. He established nearly $400,000 per year of institutional scholarships to support dislocated workers, veterans, and outstanding students. His commitment to resource development resulted in a 600% increase in Foundation endowments, 1,000% increase in Foundation assets, and a twenty-fold increase in annual Foundation gifts during his tenure.

Steve was instrumental in the development of the Southwestern Oregon University Center, committing space and resources to deliver upper division courses to the South Coast. Additionally, he led the development of on-campus student housing and associated student activities that transformed the culture of our campus.

Through his vision and leadership, the College developed the Newmark Center, a collaborative partnership with local, regional, and state government, educational, non-profit, and social service organizations. With a passion for increasing educational opportunities and co-curricular activities for students to enhance their educational experience, the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute was created along with the completion or initiation of numerous other facilities (Stensland Hall, the Student Recreation Center, track, soccer field, athletic field house, and the Curry Campus).

Spending several years travelling abroad while serving in the U.S. Army and the State Department Foreign Service, Steve believed that cultural experiences were important for students, faculty and our community. He was instrumental in developing faculty and student exchanges and summer programs with Hyejeon Junior College, Southwestern’s sister college in Korea. In cooperation with the College’s Foundation, he established an art program that consists of numerous sculptures scattered throughout the Coos Campus today.

Co-curricular activities were also important to Steve. He believed that such activities could enhance a student’s college experience while also augmenting the College’s resources. During his 15-year tenure, Kridelbaugh started or restarted baseball and softball (1995), men's and women's soccer (1996), wrestling (1997), men's and women's golf in (2003), and men's and women's cross country (2004). He served on the NWAC Executive Board and was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame in 2005.