WEST LIBERTY, Aug. 16, 2018 — West Liberty University welcomed back one of its own success stories as alumna Alexis Montes was selected to fill the new position of Athletic Advancement Coordinator.
“I’m really excited to have Alexis on my team. Her story is the story of West Liberty. It’s inspiring and illustrates the power of philanthropy,” said Jason Koegler, vice president of Institutional Advancement.
“When Alexis was a student-athlete in 2015, she needed help to compete in track and field. We helped her by making a connection with alumnus and donor David Coffaro of Pittsburgh, who threw the javelin himself years ago. Coffaro then helped her in training. She went on to great success, eventually getting recruited by Marshall and earning her master’s degree as part of the deal. It was a life changing moment for her and it was all made possible by the generosity of a West Liberty University alumnus and donor,” Koegler explained.
Now Montes is giving back to WLU.
“I’m thrilled to be back on the Hilltop and working for a school that gave me so much. I’m looking forward to working with our athletic department and our advancement team as we move WLU forward to even greater success for our students,” said Montes.
A native of Glen Dale, Montes graduated from John Marshall High School, earned a bachelor’s in education, with a concentration in athletic administration and coaching in 2016 at WLU and her master’s in sports administration at Marshall University.
“This new position was prompted by the many new sports we now have and new athletes, with the addition of men’s soccer and women’s acrobatics and tumbling. Plus we have the excitement of new athletic facilities to capitalize on. Her energy and experience as a recent student-athlete brings so much to campus,” said Koegler.
Montes’ primary role is coordinating the Jack Adams Hilltopper Athletic Club, a donor reward system that features VIP seating and more at all football and basketball games. She’ll also be in charge of the annual Lary Loew Hilltopper Scramble, held every June.
Both of these tasks raise funds for athletic scholarships and improvements.
Montes currently is seeking sponsors for the athletic club as the first home football game draws near. West Liberty will welcome West Virginia Wesleyan to West Family Stadium on Sept. 6. Kickoff for the Thursday night game is set for 7 p.m.
Montes’ office is located on the third floor of historic Shaw Hall in the advancement office.
Montes made history as WLU’s first two-time NCAA Division II Track and Field All-American. The Hilltopper standout rose to the occasion in back-to-back NCAA Division II national championship meets, breaking her own school record each time to earn All-America honors. Her throw of 167 feet, 7 inches in the 2016 national championships eclipsed her own school record by more than 10 feet.
Coffaro, a 1977 Hall of Fame alumnus from Pittsburgh, was WLU’s first NAIA track and field All-American and a former record setting javelin thrower for the black and gold. He is a long-time member of the Jack Adams Hilltopper Athletic Club.
To contact Montes, please call 304.336.8900.