CSUS athletic director is re-assigned, veteran coach takes over

President Donald Gerth has appointed veteran volleyball coach Debby Colberg as the new director of Intercollegiate Athletics at CSUS. Sarah Sieber/State Hornet

CSUS President Donald Gerth has asked Judith Davidson to step down from her position as athletic director and take a reassignment within the department.

Head volleyball coach Debby Colberg will be the new athletic director, effective immediately. Colberg, a graduate of Sac State, has guided the Hornet volleyball team for 23 years. She will continue to lead the Hornet volleyball team as well.

"It is not an uncommon pattern ... for a coach to also be the athletic director," Gerth said. "Clearly we need to take some stock in where we are with our intercollegiate athletics."

Colberg is the winningest coach in CSUS history, and has recently guided the Hornet volleyball team to two consecutive Big Sky Championships.

"She is a graduate, she was a player, and she has been a very successful coach at this program," Gerth said. "I am asking to work with her as a close team member."

Colberg said she can be a successful replacement because she has a good relationship with the university's administration.

"We need to involve everyone in this department," Colberg said of athletics. "We need to do a complete assessment of all of our programs and provide that information to the administration possibly every week.

"I am an unproven commodity. I am going to have to learn as I go. ... I feel that I have a lot of support and I am going to need everyone. I can't do this job without the help of (the athletic department) and the administration."

Davidson will be responsible for a special project focused on the athletic facilities. Irene Shea will have an expanded role and her title changed to senior associate director of athletics.

"It is extremely important that we all act like a team," Shea said. "I think this is a very positive move."